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Last reviewed: 27 July 2009

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Relations between the UK and Russia (2003 was their 450th anniversary) were transformed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. There are frequent contacts at all levels to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues and key foreign policy issues. The State Visit by HM the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to Russia in October 1994 was the first ever by a reigning British Monarch. President Putin came to the UK on a State Visit in summer 2003, the first by a Russian leader since 1874. President Putin also visited the UK in October 2005, during the UK Presidency of the European Union.

Relations between Russia and the UK were strained in the aftermath of the murder of Alexander Litvenenko in November 2006 and the closure of the British Council in St. Petersburg and Ekaterinburg in January 2008. The UK co-operates with Russia where it is in its interests to do so. High-level contacts have increased in the last year, in pursuit of shared interests on the global economy, energy and climate security, and international stability – although bilateral differences remain. President Medvedev and Prime Minister Brown held talks in July 2008 andPresident Medvedev visited the UK in April 2009 for the G20 Summit.

President Medvedev has announced a framework for Russian foreign policy under his government, built around the principles of international engagement, and Russia continues to play an important role in international institutions such as the UN Security Council. Nevertheless, differences with the international community have arisen following the conflict in Georgia in 2008, and Russia’s recognition of the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.  

Negotiations are currently underway between the EU and Russia on a successor to the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. This will be a wide-ranging agreement covering a number of areas including global and regional security and stability, trade and investment, and climate and energy security.Russia has a dialogue with NATO through the NATO Russia Council, and there are many areas on which NATO and Russia have common interests, including Afghanistan, combating piracy, counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism where there will be opportunities to work together.

The UK and Russia - Trade

Trade between the UK and Russia has been growing at around 25 per cent annually for the last five years. The UK has substantial investments in Russia, and was the largest investor in Russia in both 2006 and 2007.  

In turn, Russia is the UK's 12th largest export market, with over 1000 UK companies operating in Russia in 2008. Russia enjoys a historically strong performance in the field of engineering, financial services, ICT, power and energy and sports and leisure infrastructure. Over the past few years, trade between Russia and the UK has increased significantly. Exports of UK goods were valued at £4.1bn in 2008, an increase of 46% on 2007 figures.  Russia's potential will be enhanced further if it pushes through a range of institutional and economic reforms necessary to complete the transition to a stable, rules-based economy.

UKTI Country Profile : Russia

Development Assistance

DFID’s bilateral engagement with Russia started in the early 1990s, initially supporting Russia’s transition to a market economy. After 2002 the focus shifted to a set of policy issues based around the Russian government’s administrative and social reforms. Over the period 2001 – 2006, over £50m was allocated to support this. In addition, there were annual contributions of between £2-3 million for humanitarian operations in the North Caucasus.

DFID closed its bilateral aid programme March 2007, a sign of Russia’s strong economic growth since 2000 and its position as one of the richest Middle Income Countries. As a G8 member and an emerging donor, Russia has the potential to play a major role in global poverty reduction. DFID’s programme in Russia now works through the World Bank and the EBRD across three main areas: building Russia’s aid management capacity; supporting public administration reforms; and promoting energy efficiency.

Cultural Relations with the UK

The British Council continues to operate in Russia through its Moscow offices, although operations in St. Petersburg and Ekaterinburg remain suspended following actions by the Russian authorities in January 2008.  The UK does not believe that cultural and human relations should be damaged by unrelated political disputes.

British Council Russia

For further details on the UK’s relations with Russia, you may wish to see the Foreign Affairs Committee's Global Security: Russia report and the FCO’s Command Response.

BBC News Country Timeline: Russia

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Contacts

Russian Federation

Address:

6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens
London W8 4QP
Website: www.great-britain.mid.ru

Consular Department
5 Kensington Palace Gardens
London
W8 4QS

Office of the Trade Representative
33 Highgate West Hill
London
N6 6NL
E-mail: info@rustradeuk.org
Website: www.rustradeuk.org

Telephone:

(020) 7229 2666/3628/6412
(020) 7229 8027 Consular Section
(020) 8340 4492/1907 Office of the Trade Representative
 

Fax:

(020) 7727 8625
020 7229 3215 Consular Department
020 848 0112 Office of the Trade Representative

Email: office@rusemblon.org

Email: info@rusemblon.org

Email: info@rustradeuk.org

Office hours:

 

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