British prime minister David Cameron insisted today that Russia and Britain can overcome sharp differences in their relations - including the 2006 poisoning death of a Kremlin critic in London - and seal new trading ties.
Mr Cameron was in Moscow for the first visit to Russia's capital by a British leader in six years, meeting with president Dmitry Medvedev. He was also scheduled to hold the first talks by any British official with prime minister Vladimir Putin in more than four years.
Ties between Britain and Russia soured over the 2006 poisoning death of dissident ex-Russian security agent Alexander Litvinenko in London. On his deathbed, Mr Litvinenko accused Mr Putin of authorising his killing.
Russia has repeatedly refused British requests for the extradition of the chief suspect in the case, ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi.
British foreign secretary William Hague, who was accompanying Mr Cameron along with business executives, acknowledged Mr Cameron would raise the issue, but said the leader's visit would be focused on businesses opportunities - knowing there is little prospect of progress on the Litvinenko case.
In an interview with Sky News, Mr Lugvoi urged Britain to use meetings to seal possible new trade rather than discuss the killing.
"I am sure that this is the dream of Cameron - don't speak about me. It looks idiotic," Mr Lugovoi said. "For the last four years the first question from every British politician has been about me, despite the fact that Britain is the biggest investor in the Russian economy."
Mr Cameron hopes to seal new deals worth £215 million - which would create 500 new jobs in Britain - during talks today.
British companies are likely to win new rights to bid for contracts on Russian-led civil nuclear projects, while Britain will support Russia's efforts to join the World Trade Organisation.
"Russia is an important partner for the UK, although our differences in recent years are well known. We face many similar challenges and both the president and I believe that we can make more progress by working together on matters of real importance for the prosperity and security of people in both countries," Mr Cameron said.
"That's why we've sought to put our relationship on a firmer footing over the last year and why I'm looking forward to my visit to Moscow. It's an opportunity to improve our partnership to the benefit of both the British and the Russian people."
Mr Cameron is accompanied by about 20 business leaders, including oil company BP's chief executive Bob Dudley and Royal Dutch Shell chief executive Peter Voser.
Mr Dudley was joining the trip following the collapse earlier this year of a planned Arctic oil deal with state-owned energy company Rosneft - an agreement that had been seen as critical to the company's recovery from the Gulf of Mexico spill.
Rosneft last month agreed a partnership with US company Exxon Mobil to develop offshore oil fields in the Russian Arctic, one of the world's last regions with major untapped hydrocarbon deposits. In return, Rosneft has the option to acquire parts of oil projects in Texas and the Gulf of Mexico.