Cameron meets Putin to discuss Syria, Litvinenko... and the Russian's favourite sport judo is on the agenda too

• PM accompanied Putin, who has a black belt in the martial art, to the ExCel arena to watch his favourite sport
• In another gaffe the Mayor of London suggested the Russian president take his clothes off and take part in the London 2012 judo
• Cameron later gave chocolate brownies to troops guarding the Olympics

David Cameron held a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin today in an attempt to improve the two countries' fragile relationship - before both heading off to watch some Olympics judo.
The Prime Minister tried to push the former KGB spy to take a tougher line on Syria, Russia's firmest foothold in the Middle East, and stop blocking Western-backed resolutions aimed at stepping up pressure on President Bashar al-Assad.
But after 45 minutes of talks, for which Putin put in an unusually punctual appearance, Cameron and Putin said Russia and Britain still differed over Syria.

Improving relations: Before the judo, David Cameron warmly greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin on the steps of Downing Street

Friendly: Russian President Vladmir Putin, left and David Cameron watch the judo this afternoon, after holding talks on Syria earlier in the day

Celebration: David Cameron congratulates Britain's Gemma Gibbons, right, on her silver medal after the women's -78kg final judo match

Taking an interest: Putin and Cameron look deep in concentration as they watch the judo

Mr Putin was also meant to appear at a joint press conference at Downing Street but was allowed to pull out.
The Prime Minister and the Russian leader followed their meeting this afternoon with a visit to the Olympic judo venue, a discipline in which Putin holds a black belt.

 

Reporters had been desperate to ask him about the 2006 murder of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko who was poisoned with radioactive material.
Since the killing Russia has refused British extradition requests to take the chief suspect in the case, ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi, to the UK for questioning.

Sensitive: It is the Russian leader's first visit to Britain in seven years

Diplomatic: In an attempt to improve Britain's edgy relationship with the Russians, David Cameron shielded Mr Putin from difficult questions today

Shielded: The Russian president was meant to appear at a joint press conference at Downing Street but was allowed to pull out

Crunch talks: David Cameron and Vladimir Putin in Downing Street today but Boris Johnson's comments may not have helped already tense relations between the two countries

Goodbye: Putin waves to the Press as he leaves Downing Street

The attempt at warmer relations disappointed Mr Litvinenko’s widow, Marina, who said she was 'dismayed' by the visit.

'To show that Mr Putin is not welcome here, I urge my fellow Londoners to put on a white ribbon, the symbol of Russian protest, on the day Mr Putin arrives,' she said.
Mr Putin was also able to avoid questions from about a group of leading musicians who have called for for a fair hearing to be given to members of a punk band facing prison for performing what they say was a 'legitimate protest'.
The trio Pussy Riot face up to seven years behind bars after staging a performance in a Moscow cathedral calling on the Virgin Mary to remove President Putin from power.

Macho man: Vladimir Putin shown here topless while riding a horse in his native Russia

Out and about: The Russian president, again topless, is shown here enjoying a shoot

Tough guy: Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (in white) is a black belt in judo so Mr Johnson suggested he strip to the waist and take part in the Games

Jarvis Cocker, Pete Townshend, Martha Wainwright and Neil Tennant were among those who raised concerns about the 'preposterous' charge in a letter to The Times.
Meanwhile, just a day after the gaffe-prone Boris Johnson got himself stuck on a zip-wire he has now decided to do his bit for British-Russian relations, with similarly embarrassing results.
As the two countries prepared for their delicate talks today, the Mayor of London instead challenged Russian leader Vladimir Putin to 'strip to the waist' and take part in this afternoon's Olympic judo contest.

Red-faced: A day after the gaffe-prone Boris Johnson got himself stuck on a zip-wire he has now decided to do his bit for British-Russian relations, with similarly embarrassing results

Putting his foot in it: A day after getting stuck above a crowd in London Boris Johnson has today decided to turn his hand to diplomatic relations

Familiar with Putin's passion for the sport, Johnson joked that the Russian president might join in the judo when he visited the Olympic Park.
'I hope he will take part - isn’t he a dab hand?'  the Mayor said.
'I think that’s what people want to see - stripped to the waist.
'We want the politicians’ Olympics, that’s what we want.'

Thanks a bunch: Prime Minister David Cameron then went off to hand out brownies to soldiers helping with the Olympic Games

Tea time: Soldiers of 5th Battalion The Rifles, normally stationed in Germany, are giving up their time off to guard London 2012

After the key talks, Mr Cameron said thank you to some of the troops providing security for the Olympic Games by serving them chocolate brownies and tea.
The soldiers, mostly infantrymen from 5th Battalion the Rifles based at Paderborn in Germany, were guarding the St James’s Park entrance to Downing Street, alongside the Olympic beach volleyball arena on Horse Guards Parade.
Members of 5 Rifles were called in to fill gaps left by private security firm G4S weeks after the battalion came back from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Some of them told the Prime Minister today that their leave had been cancelled so they could take part in Olympic duties, and Mr Cameron told them he was sure that they would get the leave back later.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister is obviously aware of the great job the soldiers are doing all around London to deliver a safe and secure Games and he wanted to go out and thank the soldiers working at the back of No 10.'