European leaders on Friday plan to confront (not shirt-front) Russian president Vladimir Putin about his threats to pull the plug on crucial Russian gas deliveries.  Putin said that Russian gas could face “major transit difficulties” during the cold winter months after some of the Europeans stated that economic sanctions against Moscow weren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Putin took his time in Serbia, where he received a hero’s welcome at Belgrade’s biggest (and dampest) military parade since the country was party of Yugoslavia during Soviet times.  In fact, Putin’s speech praising pan-Slavic unity was more warmly welcomed by the crowd than was their own president. 

The Serbian visit put the Russian leader way behind schedule, and he arrived late in Milan, Italy where the Asia-Europe (ASEM) Summit is to take place.  Putin made it in time for the summit dinner with top officials from more than 50 European and Asian nations.  Afterwards, he had a sideline meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which had been postponed from earlier in the day because of the Serbian visit.  Putin said it had been a “very good” discussion but added nothing more.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop missed her chance to shirt-front Putin over the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine, allegedly by Russian-backed rebels.  38 Australian citizens and residents died in that crash.  Bishop was seated near Putin, but he arrived late after she was already seated, and left for a meeting with Italy’s President.  It’s not clear if the summit will provide an opportunity for Bishop to shirt-front Putin, throw a folding chair at him, deliver a suplex followed by a pile driver.. or just talk with him.