From Russia With Love: Bush Goes to G-8 Summit

Last time we checked in on President Bush's travels, he was in Germany as guest of German Chancellor Angela Merkel (see previous post here). We pick up the President's travels on the eve of his departure for Russia. Chancellor Merkel threw a most informal pig roast in the village of Trinwillershagen, part of the former East Germany.

All photos from the White House web site.


As President George W. Bush and Laura Bush look on, German Chancellor Angela Markel slices up some barbeque Thursday, July 13, 2006, during dinner in Trinwillershagen, Germany. The Bushes continue their Europe trip when they depart Germany Friday en route to Russia and the G8 Summit. White House photo by Shealah Craighead

All the photos from the German visit are here. Now, on to Russia.


President George W. Bush calls world leaders concerning the situation in the Middle East from his Air Force One office en route to the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, July 14, 2006. White House photo by Eric Draper


President George W. Bush, center, attends a roundtable discussion with Civil Society at the Consul General’s residence, Friday, July 14, 2006 in St. Petersburg, Russia. White House photo by Eric Draper

That Eric Draper sure does like the dramatic wide angle photographs!



President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin look over the first car owned by President Putin, a Zaporozhets, Friday, July 14, 2006, before they attend a social dinner at the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna, Russia. White House photo by Eric Draper

Sort of reminds me of the Hillbillies in Appalachia with the car on blocks in the front yard.



President George W. Bush participates in a working session at the G8 Summit in Strelna, Russia, Sunday, July 16, 2006. White House photo by Eric Draper



The G8 leaders pose of a photograph at Konstantinvosky Palace in Strelna, Russia, Sunday, July 16, 2006. From left, they are: Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi; German Chancellor Angela Merkel; British Prime Minister Tony Blair; French President Jacques Chirac; Russian President Vladimir Putin; President George W. Bush; Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi; Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen; and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. White House photo by Paul Morse



President George W. Bush welcomes President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China for a meeting at the G8 Summit in Strelna, Russia, Sunday, July 16, 2006. "The United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution dealing with the North Korean issue, and I want to thank you for your leadership on that, Mr. President," said President Bush. "We're working together on the Iranian issue. We talked about the Middle East. I want to thank you very much for our continued dialogue on bilateral issues. The bilateral statement from their meeting is here. White House photo by Eric Draper


Time in between group meetings and dinners gave leaders a chance for one on one meetings. President Bush, who had recently met with both Prime Minister Harper of Canada and Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan at the White House, not to mention Chancellor Merkel, made sure to take advantage of the opportunity to talk one on one with many of his Summit partners.

• Remarks and photo of President Bush and French President Jacques Chirac.
• Question and Answer session with British Prime Minster Tony Blair.

President George W. Bush drives his electric GEM car to a meeting during the G8 Summit at Konstantinvosky Palace Complex in Strelna, Russia, July 16, 2006. Each of the G8 leaders is provided with a car that is decorated with the flag of the leader's nation. White House photo by Eric Draper