UK Parliamentarian Says Russian Lawmakers Invited to Westminster

LONDON (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova – Russian lawmakers were invited to visit the British parliament to start work on improving ties between London and Moscow, the chairperson of a cross-party working group on relations with Russia in the British parliament told Sputnik.

"The Russian lawmakers have an invitation to come over here and we, probably, will go over there when we're invited. We sent a message to the Duma and we would have to see what is going to be convenient for them and for us," Edward Leigh said.

He expressed hope that lawmakers from the two countries would meet occasionally, adding that the objective of the recently reconstituted British working group was "to understand the Russian position on issues and for Russians – to understand our position and to foster good relations between the two parliaments."

Relations between Russia and the United Kingdom, among other Western states, deteriorated in 2014 over accusations that Moscow had interfered in the Ukrainian crisis. Russia denies the allegations and maintains it contributes to efforts of the peaceful settlement of the eastern Ukraine conflict.

The United Kingdom’s January report on the alleged involvement of Russian authorities in the poisoning of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko has further soured the already strained ties between Moscow and London. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused the British inquiry of being politicized and warned that it would cast a shadow on UK-Russia relations.