Britain's agenda for its presidency of the Group of Eight industrialized nations was bolstered by a historic agreement Saturday by G8 finance ministers to cancel more that $40 billion worth of debt owed by the world's poorest nations.
But the agenda for Blair's three-day trip, during which he will also visit the leaders of Germany, Luxembourg and France, is likely to be overshadowed by deep divisions over the European Union's battered constitution and budget.
Britain has made tackling climate change and lifting Africa out of poverty a priority for its G8 presidency. On global warming, Blair enjoys strong support in European capitals and has a friend in Putin, who has also signed the Kyoto Protocol -- the 1997 accord that seeks to cut the greenhouse gases blamed for the earth's rising temperatures.
Negotiations on Africa could be more difficult, however.
G8 finance ministers on Saturday agreed to immediately wipe out 100 percent of the debts that 18 countries, many in sub-Saharan Africa, owe to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank. Up to 20 other countries could be eligible if they meet targets for good governance and tackling corruption, leading eventually to a total debt relief package of more than $55 billion.
However, Blair faces further tough negotiations on his aim to double international aid.
Tom Cargill, an analyst at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, said Russia did not have a "huge amount of interest in Africa." Putin holds the G8 presidency after Britain and was expected to focus on security issues, central Asia and eastern Europe, Cargill said.
France and Germany have both expressed support for Britain's bid to double international aid by issuing bonds on the world's capital markets.
France, however, is also pushing its own money-raising initiative -- an international aviation tax. Schroeder's ability to commit may be hampered by Germany's sluggish economy and looming elections.
Disagreements over the European Union budget and the future of the EU constitution are bound to overshadow the talks.
Blair has shelved plans for a referendum on the constitution, ignoring pleas from Chirac and Schroeder to push ahead with ratification. He has also threatened to veto Europe's spending plans if other leaders try to scrap Britain's lucrative budget rebate and called for a rethink of European farm subsidies -- a proposal flatly rejected by Chirac.