UK Prime Minister Theresa May is interested in cooperation with Russia over security issues with recognition that the two countries have many disagreements over other issues, Sputnik reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Theresa May are expected to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit, which is scheduled to take place in the China’s city of Hangzhou on September 4-5.
"The Prime Minister’s view is that we should approach this in a hard-headed way, recognising that is in the interests of the UK to seek to work with Russia on issues around security that can affect people here at home, but recognising the many issues where we would disagree in the relationship," the source said as quoted by the Independent newspaper.
In August, Putin and May held their first phone conversation discussing the current level of bilateral ties.
During their phone conversation, held at the United Kingdom’s request, the two leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the existing parameters of cooperation in the political, trade and economic spheres. They agreed to improve dialogue between the intelligence services in charge of aviation security, according to the Kremlin statement.
May, formerly the UK home secretary, was widely expected to maintain a hard line on Russia after becoming the prime minister, as she was the minister responsible for the inquiry on the death of former Russian Federal Security Service employee Alexander Litvinenko, condemning the Russian government. She was also one of the main supporters of the EU anti-Russia sanctions.