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UK ministers to meet Russian counterparts as relations thaw UK ministers to meet Russian counterparts as relations thaw
(about 4 hours later)
The foreign secretary William Hague and defence secretary Phillip Hammond are to meet their Russian counterparts on Wednesday, in a sign of a gentle thaw in frosty Anglo-Russian relations. The foreign secretary, William Hague, and defence secretary Phillip Hammond are to meet their Russian counterparts on Wednesday, in a sign of a gentle thaw in Anglo-Russian relations.
Hague will hold talks in London with Russia's veteran foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, while Hammond sees defence chief Sergey Shoigu. Lavrov's trip comes after Vladimir Putin and David Cameron bonded over judo at the London Olympics. Both men agreed to begin a new "strategic dialogue" using a "2+2" format. Hague will hold talks in London with Sergei Lavrov, while Hammond will meet Sergei Shoigu.
Ties between London and Moscow have improved gradually following a series of bitter rows over the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. Moscow has refused to hand over the two suspects accused of his killing, former KGB agents Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun. The meetings come after Vladimir Putin and David Cameron bonded over judo at the 2012 London Olympics. Both men agreed to begin a new "strategic dialogue" using a "2+2" format.
Last month Hague applied to stop the government's secret files on Litvinenko from being revealed at a public inquest. Critics say this move is part of a broader, dubious attempt to appease the Kremlin and to boost bilateral trade. Ties between London and Moscow have improved gradually after a series of bitter rows over the murder in London of former FSB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who it later emerged was working for the British and Spanish secret services at the time of his death. Moscow has refused to hand over the two suspects accused of his killing, former KGB agents Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun.
Last week Britain extradited a Russian national, Maxim Vintskevich, back to Moscow. In the past the UK has refused similar requests because of Russia's deeply flawed judicial system. Russian officials hailed the moved as a "breakthrough in our bilateral relations." Last month Hague applied to stop the government's secret files on Litvinenko from being revealed at a public inquest. Critics say this is part of a broader, dubious attempt to appease the Kremlin and boost bilateral trade.
Clearly, not everyone in Moscow supports rapprochement. Over the weekend it emerged that Russia's main domestic spy agency has been hounding Denis Keefe, a career diplomat and Britain's deputy ambassador in Moscow. Journalists for state-run media have run a smear campaign, accusing Keefe of engaging in espionage and being a modern-day James Bond. Last week Britain extradited a Russian national, Maxim Vintskevich, back to Moscow. In the past the UK has refused similar requests because of Russia's deeply flawed judicial system. Russian officials hailed the moved as a "breakthrough in our bilateral relations".
Clearly, not everyone in Moscow supports rapprochement. Over the weekend it emerged that Russia's main domestic spy agency has been hounding Denis Keefe, a career diplomat and Britain's deputy ambassador in Moscow. Journalists for state-run media have run a smear campaign, accusing him of and being a modern-day James Bondbeing a spy.