The Telegraph published an article by Rosa Prince devoted to Russian President Vladimir Putin's talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron that will take place in London today.
"It is the Russian premier's first visit to the United Kingdom for seven years, and the Prime Minister's desire to push him on a range of international and domestic issues will be balanced by the need to welcome him at a time when the West fears Moscow is increasingly turning inwards," the article reads.
"Since then, tensions between Moscow and the West have grown over Syria, with Russia blocking a series of efforts at the United Nations to stop President Assad's bloody crackdown on his people."
"Human rights abuses within Russia will also be on Mr Cameron's agenda, although not the Russian leader's, amid concern about the harsh treatment meted out to anti-Putin protesters such as the feminist punk band members who are currently on trial after filming a video criticising the president in a cathedral," the author underlines.
"The issues are sensitive, as the Prime Minister must avoid any linkage between the protests on the streets of Moscow and those which led to the violence in Syria."
"Western diplomats believe that one of the reasons Moscow has been so averse to action in Syria is because it fears the Arab Spring could spread to Russia if President Assad is forcibly removed," the author says.
"To complicate matters, Mr Cameron will not want to offend his visitor at a time when he is keen to drive up trade between the UK and Russia as part of his over-arching aim to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Olympics to boost the economy," she concludes.
