Before the ceremony, Lord Robertson had a meeting with President Putin. He also met the Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov, the Minister of Defence Marshal Sergeyev, the Secretary of State of the Security Council Sergey Ivanov, the Minister for Civil Emergency General Shoigu and members of the State Duma.
The following day, on 21 Feburary, he was invited to give a speech at the Institute for Foreign Relations (MGIMO). He also participated in the third "Winter Academy" organised for young Russian postgraduates at the Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences (INION). This year's event focused on "Transatlantic relations within the framework of NATO" and comprised lectures, seminars and assigned reading over a period of ten days.
