Russian President Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister Theresa May shake hands. Photo / AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister Theresa May shake hands. Photo / AP
Relations between Russia and Britain have been in tatters since March 2018 after double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were attacked with a nerve agent in the British town of Salisbury.
And the strain between the two countries was evident as Russian President Vladimir Putin met with outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May — their first top-level encounter in years. Putin and May last met in 2016.
The two world leaders shared a frosty handshake as they met at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan on Friday night before heading into one-on-one talks.
During their talk, May told Putin that normal relations will not be restored until Moscow ends its "irresponsible and destabilising" activity, a Downing Street spokesman said.
"She told the president that there cannot be a normalisation of our bilateral relationship until Russia stops the irresponsible and destabilising activity that threatens the UK and its allies — including hostile interventions in other countries, disinformation and cyber attacks," the spokesman said.
May also told Putin that Britain "has irrefutable evidence that Russia was behind the attack" on the former spy.
"The prime minister underlined that we remain open to a different relationship, but for that to happen the Russian government must choose a different path."
London has made clear that May's meeting with Putin does not represent a thawing of ties with Russia, despite calls from Putin for the two countries to "turn the page".
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian president and May first met one-on-one, accompanied only by their translators.
"In this format May spoke about the Skripal affair, she raised this issue and got necessary answers from the Russian president," Peskov told reporters on a conference call.
They later discussed trade and economic ties with members of their delegations, he said.
Peskov said "there is an understanding" of the need to revive bilateral economic co-operation "in the interests of the two countries' business."
The two leaders also discussed the Ukraine, Syria and Iran crises, he added.
Skripal and his daughter spent weeks in critical conditions but eventually recovered.
Britain immediately accused Russia of poisoning them with the nerve agent Novichok, accusations Moscow has denied.
Yulia and Sergei Skripal. Photo / Supplied
The use of the military-grade nerve agent was the first use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II.
The poisoning triggered a major diplomatic crisis, with Russia and the West expelling hundreds of envoys.
Russia has repeatedly denied any part in the attempted assassination.
May said before the summit that Britain will push for the two Russian military intelligence officers accused of involvement in the attack to be brought to justice.
In an interview with the Financial Times before the G-20 summit, Putin insisted that Russia had nothing to do with the poisoning.
He argued that bilateral ties are far more important than "the fuss about spies not worth five kopecks."
Putin also said earlier this month it was time to "turn the page" on the countries' difficult relationship after the poisoning.
"Global issues related to national interests in the economic and social spheres and global security are more important than games of security services," the Kremlin leader said.
Skripal sold secrets to Britain and moved there after a 2010 spy swap.
London said the attempted assassination was "almost certainly" approved by the Russian state.
The G20 will be one of May's last trips as prime minister as Britain awaits a new leader.
Former foreign minister and London mayor Boris Johnson is the favourite to succeed her in an election that will be decided in a vote by members of the ruling Conservative party.
The winner will be announced on July 23, and will formally take office the next day.
Putin has voiced hope relations could improve under a new PM.
