Putin and May agree to meet in ‘the near future’

New United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May spoke with President Putin of Russia by telephone for the first time on the 9 August 2016.

The UK Prime Minister noted the importance of the relationship between the UK and Russia, and expressed the hope that, despite differences on certain issues, they could communicate in an open and honest way about the issues that mattered most to them.

The Russian President reported that during the discussion of current bilateral issues, both leaders had expressed dissatisfaction with the current parameters of cooperation in the political, trade and economic spheres. They agreed to step up joint work in some areas.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Russia on Brexit: calculating the benefits http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-on-brexit-calculating-the-benefits/

ESO: Background information: President Putin 'probably' approved Litvinenko murder http://www.europeansources.info/record/president-putin-probably-approved-litvinenko-murder/

ESO: Background information: Russia's Silence Conceals a Preference for Brexit http://www.europeansources.info/record/russias-silence-conceals-a-preference-for-brexit/

UK: GOV.UK: Prime Minister's Office: Press Release, 09.08.16: PM call with President Putin: 9 August 2016 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-call-with-president-putin-9-august-2016

Russia: President of Russia: News, 09.08.16: Telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Theresa May http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/52676

BBC News, 10.0.16: Russia-UK relations: May and Putin pledge to improve ties http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37029507

Sputnik International, 10.08.16: UK Prime Minister’s Office Confirms May’s Meeting With Putin at G20 Summit http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160810/1044111685/may-putin-meeting-confirmed.html

The Guardian, 10.08.16: [Opinion]: Theresa May should beware Putin: he doesn’t do ‘cooperation’ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/10/vladimir-putin-theresa-may-cooperation-litvinenko

The Telegraph, 11.08.16: Boris Johnson says Britain must 'normalise' its relationship with Russia http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/11/boris-johnson-says-britain-must-normalise-its-relationship-with/

CAPX, 11.08.16: London calling: A sign of renewed relations with Russia? http://capx.co/london-calling-a-sign-of-renewed-relations-with-russia/

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