The cost of Putin’s economic U-turn

When U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair became the first leader of a major economy to meet Russia's new president in March 2000, Vladimir Putin couldn't have been more gracious. Accompanied by their wives, Putin showed Blair around the Hermitage museum in his hometown of St. Petersburg. At the Mariinsky Theater, they watched an operatic version of "War and Peace." Blair praised Putin for seeking to modernize his economy and make it more open to foreign investment. Putin the week before had mentioned the idea of Russia joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

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