Former prime minister Jean Chrétien will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week to discuss that country’s relations with the West, it was announced Friday.
Chretien will hold his discussion with the Russian leader on behalf of the InterAction Council, a group of former world leaders.
His visit comes at a time of increasingly tense relations between Russia and the West, particularly Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has been highly critical of Russia’s actions in relation to Ukraine and recently announced a two-year mission in which Canadian soldiers will be sent to train Ukrainian militia.
Chrétien is co-chair of the 41-member council that includes members such as former U.S. president Bill Clinton and former British prime minister John Major.
The council revealed Friday that in his capacity as co-chair, Chrétien “has arranged to meet with President Putin, whom he knows from his days as prime minister of Canada.”
The 81-year-old Chrétien first met Putin during his time leading Canada’s Liberal government between 1993 and 2003. He has met him “multiple times” since then, a source said Friday.
Harper has developed a frosty relationship with Putin in recent years and has used strong language to describe the Russian leader in connection with Crimea and Ukraine.
Jean Chrétien to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss ‘current state of relations with West’ | National Post
Chretien will hold his discussion with the Russian leader on behalf of the InterAction Council, a group of former world leaders.
His visit comes at a time of increasingly tense relations between Russia and the West, particularly Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has been highly critical of Russia’s actions in relation to Ukraine and recently announced a two-year mission in which Canadian soldiers will be sent to train Ukrainian militia.
Chrétien is co-chair of the 41-member council that includes members such as former U.S. president Bill Clinton and former British prime minister John Major.
The council revealed Friday that in his capacity as co-chair, Chrétien “has arranged to meet with President Putin, whom he knows from his days as prime minister of Canada.”
The 81-year-old Chrétien first met Putin during his time leading Canada’s Liberal government between 1993 and 2003. He has met him “multiple times” since then, a source said Friday.
Harper has developed a frosty relationship with Putin in recent years and has used strong language to describe the Russian leader in connection with Crimea and Ukraine.
Jean Chrétien to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss ‘current state of relations with West’ | National Post
