Judo diplomacy: Cameron grapples with Putin

By Alex Stevenson

Vladimir Putin will visit Downing Street for the first time in nearly a decade later, giving David Cameron the chance to press him on Russia's attitude to the Syria conflict.

The Russian president, now in his third term in the Kremlin, has been lured to Britain by the prospect of watching his beloved judo at the Olympics.

Cameron will meet with Putin in No 10 before the pair travel to the ExCeL centre in west London, where the prime minister will attempt to distract the former St Petersburg judo champion with talk of human rights, Syria and trade.

The trip is an opportunity for both sides to continue the tentative thaw in relations between London and Moscow in the last five years.

Intelligence cooperation remains suspended after the death of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who accused Putin of responsibility for his poisoning on his deathbed.

Both Russian and British diplomats appreciate the importance of trading links between the two countries. Cameron will have to be sensitive as he raises the UK's human rights concerns - like the trial of punk protest group Pussy Riot and Russia's rough treatment of foreign businesses, including the branding of non-governmental organisations in Russia as 'foreign agents'.

It is Moscow's attitude to the conflict in Syria which is likely to generate most tension, however.

Russia, which has enjoyed a close alliance with Bashar al-Assad's regime for years, has repeatedly refused to back western calls for UN security council resolutions which would place international pressure on Damascus.

Its diplomats are deeply suspicious that Britain, the US and other western countries will use momentum at the UN to eventually call for a military intervention similar to that seen in Libya.

The Russians have argued that it is counterproductive to back the rebels so openly, as this only gives Assad and his allies more reasons to keep on fighting rather than negotiate.

Video footage emerging from Syria has showed rebels carrying out summary executions on prominent pro-Assad militia leaders, prompting condemnation from human rights groups.

Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander tweeted: "Amidst the spectacle of the Olympics it's vital David Cameron discusses the slaughter in Syria with Vladimir Putin when he visits today."

Cameron suggested to business leaders last week his main focus would be on improving trade links, however.

"We will be at the judo, so it may be a bit off-putting, but nonetheless, I know my major priority is to get those trade deals, to get that investment and not to concentrate on what’s happening on the mat," the prime minister said.