VLADIMIR PUTIN CENTER STAGE AT TODAY'S G-8 SUMMIT

"INSIDE THE TENT, 

OUTSIDE THE TENT" 

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT 

VLADIMIR PUTIN 

APEC 2012 Summit 

Vladivostok, Russia 

Today the G-8 leaders met in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, for their annual summit, and the U.S. and Russian presidents met on the sidelines.  Much analysis was dedicated to the differences between Russia and the U.S., Putin and Obama, on Syria. 

Some of the headlines:  "Putin, Obama face off over Syria at tense G8 summit meeting" (Reuters); "Russian, U.S. view on Syria doesn't match: Putin" (Sydney Morning Herald); "Obama, Putin in stare-down over (no, not the Super Bowl ring) Syria war" (Christian Science Monitor).  One of the more positive reports: "G8 meeting: Obama and Putin push for Syria summit" (BBC). 

The White House provided a transcript; and the Kremlin its account and transcript.