Tough summit for Blair

Mr Blair arrives for some difficult talks

By Jonathan Charles In Moscow

The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is on a mission to persuade.

During his talks with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, he is hoping to win over a persistent critic of British and American policy towards Iraq.

Few in Russia expect this to be an easy summit

It is the current crisis over Iraq which is certain to be the focus of the discussions.

The venue - a sumptuous hunting lodge about two hours' drive from Moscow - is supposed to provide a relaxing backdrop but the talks are expected to be anything but relaxed.

Mr Blair has long courted President Putin but their friendship is facing its stiffest test.

Britain and Russia are far apart over what to do about Iraq.

Mr Blair hopes to convince the Russians that it is right to threaten Iraq with military force if it disrupts United Nations weapons inspections.

Mr Blair wants a tough new UN resolution but Russia - which is a member of the UN Security Council - has the right of veto.

The Russians think a new resolution is not necessary and oppose the British and American position.

Russian interests

Russia wants the crisis resolved peacefully, not least because its big oil companies have substantial investments in Iraq and are concerned about what might happen to them during, and after, any conflict.

Mr Blair is expected to show some understanding of the Russian position.

The two men have built up a strong rapport

In a BBC interview, he said it was important to consider Russia's interests but it was also vital to keep the pressure on Iraq.

He told the BBC Russian Service:

"It's a question of making sure that we do this in such a way that the world is made a safer place, that Iraq can develop and that the interests of everybody, including Russia, are taken account of."

President Putin is expected to stand firm, though.

A senior aide to the President, Sergei Yastrzhembsky, has already said that he has seen no evidence that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.

Referring to a dossier published by the British Government, he said it included "the well-known document published in London". It does not bode well for the ability of the two leaders to reach an agreement.

Other business

The best Mr Blair can hope for is that President Putin signals his agreement to sign up for a two-stage resolution: one which sets out the parameters for the weapons inspections and a second later, if necessary, which authorises force if Iraq blocks the inspections.

Iraq is not the only troubled issue on the negotiating table.

The Russians are also expected to raise the future of the enclave of Kaliningrad.

It is Russian territory on the Baltic but it will be completely surrounded by European Union member states once the EU expands.

Russia and the EU have so far failed to agree details of how citizens in Kaliningrad will be able to travel easily to the rest of Russia - a journey which will mean crossing EU land and which will require some form of visa or special documentation.

President Putin will be hoping to enlist Tony Blair's support.

The Russians are stressing that all these difficulties will be discussed in the context of what has become a close friendship between the leaders.

They may have differences but the talks will not be acrimonious.

A Russian Foreign Ministry official says there is now a high level of trust and openness in the relationship.

Despite that, few in Russia expect this to be an easy summit.