LOUGH ERNE. June 17 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin arrived in Belfast on Monday, Northern Ireland, and then flew to Lough Erne aboard a helicopter for a G8 summit and a series of bilateral talks.
Putin's arrival in Lough Erne was initially planned for the evening of June 16 following a brief working visit to London for talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron and for the presentation of medals to veterans of the Arctic convoys. But Putin's plans were adjusted over the British side's unpreparedness to receive the G8 leaders in Northern Ireland on Sunday evening.
For this reason, Putin's schedule was supplemented with a meeting with British business people.
"The president found time to meet with British business people and with two media executives at the Russian ambassador's residence in London in the evening. The British side was not prepared to receive the leaders in Northern Ireland on June 16," the Kremlin press service said on Sunday.
Putin will hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G8 summit on Monday, including talks with U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta.
Putin will also meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The G8 summit is expected to center on global economy, Syria, Iran's nuclear program and the fight against terrorism.