MPs Urge The UK to 'Re Engage With Russia'

An influential group of MP’s has called for more top level talks between the UK and Russia, despite significant disagreements.

These diplomatic conflicts include, but are not limited to:

• The murder of Russian asylum seeker and Putin critic Alexander Litvinenko on British soil in 2006.
• Russia's annexation of Crimea and troops in eastern Ukraine..
• The shooting down of Malaysian Air Flight MH17 in 2014.
• Russian bombing in Syria in defence of President Assad.

Possible Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election is also being investigated and could become a further point of contention with the UK, as a major US ally.

But now, the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee says that engagement with Moscow is ‘essential’ and warns against boycotting the World Cup there next year.

But, Chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Crispin Blunt caveated:

"We need to go into this very clear-eyed. Our report makes crystal-clear the nature of the regime we're dealing with in Russia, however, they are still an important government globally... you can't just take an opt-out and hope that someone else is going to do the engagement for you."

The strategy that the Committee is putting forward is more about building bridges with the Russian people than with its government.   President Putin may hold the power now, but he won’t forever.

The Foreign Affairs Committee says we need to make clear that Britain is not Russia’s enemy.

They have identified the 2018 World Cup in Russia as such an opportunity for police in both countries to work together to stop fan violence.

Cover image: Red Square by Christophe Meneboeuf