Britain hopes to mend ties with Russia after Putin election

Britain will work with Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin to overcome obstacles in relations between the two countries, Prime Minister David Cameron said. Cameron called Putin on Monday night to discuss the prospects of bilateral political and trade links following the presidential elections in Russia. “The leaders agreed on the importance of building a stronger relationship, without disguising differences and areas of concern,” Downing Street said in a statement. Britain earlier acknowledged that the elections delivered “a decisive result” in favor of Putin, who won over 63% of the vote in March 4 polls. “The prime minister and Mr. Putin also discussed Syria and the need for united international action to bring an end to the violence and prevent the situation deteriorating into civil war,” the statement said. Cameron has been highly critical of Russia's lack of cooperation with the international community so far in attempts to stop the escalation of violence in Syria, which is torn by clashes between troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and opposition forces. Ties between Britain and Russia have been strained since the 2006 death of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London and the British government’s subsequent demand that Moscow extradite Andrei Lugovoi, its chief suspect in the case. Relations were also soured by Britain's criticism of Moscow after the Russian-Georgian military conflict in August 2008.