The Russian foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, is having talks in London today with the British prime minister, Tony Blair, and the foreign secretary, Robin Cook.

Officials say the talks are likely to be dominated by the situation in Kosovo.

In an article published today in a Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Mr Cook says the Kosovo crisis was the tensest period in Anglo-Russian relations since the end of the Cold War.

But he says Moscow remains a vitally important partner -- and he hopes they can now seek a common approach in dealing with Kosovo.

Mr Ivanov is on a visit that was to have taken place in May, but was cancelled by President Yeltsin in protest against NATO's bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.