Putin to cheer for Russian judokas in Olympics

London, Aug 2 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in London Thursday for informal talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron and to witness some of the Olympic judo events.

The one-day trip, Putin's first to Britain in nine years, will see the Russian leader discuss the Syrian conflict and energy cooperation with Cameron, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Russia's Tagir Khaibulaev and Vera Moskalyuk are due to fight later Thursday at the ExCeL Arena.

Putin is a judo black belt and starred in the instructional video 'Let's Learn Judo With Vladimir Putin' in 2008.

Relations between Britain and Russia have cooled significantly since Putin's last visit, after the 2006 poisoning death of former security officer Alexander Litvinenko in London.

Britain accuses Russia of harbouring its main suspect, Andrei Lugovoi.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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