Vladimir Putin to attend London Olympics

The visit would be Putin’s first UK trip since he attended the G8 summit in Gleneagles in 2005.

Putin was invited on a state visit to Britain by Tony Blair in 2003, but relations between the two countries have soured since the 2006 murder of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian spy who died from poisoning by radioactive polonium. Many of Putin’s foes have also received asylum in Great Britain.

Russia has refused to extradite Andrei Lugovoy, an ex-KGB bodyguard Britain wants to prosecute for Litvinenko’s murder. The incident sent ties between the countries plunging to a post-Cold War low and led to tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.

A number of British politicians including former Europe minister Denis MacShane have said Putin should not be welcome at the Olympic Games because of human rights abuses in Russia.

Mr Cameron visited Moscow last year, ending a four-year period during which Putin has had no high-level contact with British officials. On Monday, Mr Cameron had to wait for Mr Putin who was late after an extended meeting with US President Barack Obama.

“The Prime Minister kindly agreed to wait and used the pause to work with documents,” Mr Peskov said. He said the two leaders exchanged jokes about euro 2012.

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