Group of Eight leaders arriving for July’s summit at the Constantine Palace near St Petersburg will find Russia transformed from the country they invited into the club of leading industrialised democracies nine years ago.

Russia in 1997 was chaotic, struggling to pay wages for millions, months away from a humiliating debt default and financial crisis. Russia today is firmly controlled from the centre, in its eighth year of robust economic growth and displaying a self-confidence not seen since the 1970s.