SEOUL, South Korea — British Prime Minister David Cameron said Thursday that he would visit Russia next year, signaling an improvement in ties after a freeze caused by the murder of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.
"I'm very pleased to take up the invitation of a visit to Russia next year," Cameron told reporters after a meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev at the G20 summit in South Korea.
Diplomatic ties between the two countries fell to a post-Cold War low after Moscow refused to extradite Andrei Lugavoi, the suspect Britain wants to put on trial for the killing of former intelligence officer Litvinenko using the highly toxic polonium-210 isotope.
The death was not mentioned by Medvedev and Cameron, who said they focused on G20, North Korea, Iran, an upcoming NATO summit in Lisbon and economic cooperation.
"It has been a very positive meeting. I think we will have many more like this as we see a strengthening of the British-Russian relationship which I am keen to see," Cameron said in a statement.
Cameron took office in May at the head of a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government. His Foreign Secretary William Hague visited Moscow last month as part of efforts to rebuild relations and met Medvedev.
"We have recently managed to advance on a number of issues, cooperating very closely," Medvedev said.
