From Russia with diplomacy

The Times of London: Russia seeks thaw in frosty rhetoric - World - Times Online

THE Kremlin has launched a diplomatic offensive to repair frayed relations between Russia and the West and rescue preparations for a key summit that President Putin will host in St Petersburg this summer.

Amid fears of a return to Cold War suspicion, the Russian presidential chief of staff made an unprecedented visit to Downing Street this week to defuse tensions that could undermine the annual G8 meeting of the world’s most powerful leaders.

Putin's Russia fascinates me. It's not a democracy. It is clearly ambitious. It's going to fascinate me for some time.