The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, and President Putin of Russia yesterday pressed for closer ties between NATO and Moscow, saying most alliance members had backed the plan.
"The proposal ... has achieved, I believe, broad acceptance. We can now enter in the detailed discussions on the working of the new NATO-Russia council," Mr Blair said with Mr Putin at his side.
"The Russia-NATO discussion will continue," Mr Putin said after a day of talks. "This is one of the few realistic possibilities to change the quality of Russian-NATO relationship."
Mr Putin and his wife Lyudmila, stayed overnight at Mr Blair's country residence, Chequers, as the talks continued informally. They are due to leave Britain this afternoon.
Mr Blair began pushing for a step change in ties last month, writing a four-page letter to the NATO Secretary-General, Lord Robertson, and all leaders of the 19-member alliance suggesting a new Russian-North Atlantic Council, now dubbed "NATO at 20".
The prospect of the Cold War enemies fighting side by side is one envisioned under the forum Mr Blair is personally championing. Earlier areas of co-operation are likely to include counter-terrorism and control of weapons of mass destruction. Mr Putin said the mechanics of the new relationship would be established by May 2002. "Russia is ready for such an agreement," he said.
Mr Blair praised Russia's support for the military campaign in Afghanistan since the September 11th attacks on the US. He said the two countries would set up a bilateral working group on terrorism "to co-operate in defeating this attack upon the civilised world". Co-operation on intelligence matters since September 11th had been "unprecedentedly close", Mr Blair said. He also pledged Britain would give "strong support" for Russian membership of the World Trade Organisation.