Tony Blair is in Moscow today for a visit which will include his fifth official meeting with the country's president Vladimir Putin.

The Blair camp is talking up the event, suggesting the British government has "invested quite a lot" in developing relations with the new president. The prime minister said on Tuesday: "The important thing for Britain is stability in Russia, Russia growing and prospering in a way that means Russia is a full member of the international community. I know that people say that there is a risk in being so close with Russia and president Putin but I think this is something that is well worth doing."

Today's meeting is expected to see the two leaders discuss the modernisation of Russia's ailing economy and current international issues - including the on-going conflict in Chechnya and human rights in Russia. Also on the agenda is likely to be the US effort to create a strategic national missile defence system as well as the international response to climate change.

Blair arrived in Russia last night where he dined with Putin in a Moscow bar. He met with Russian prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov this morning before meeting Putin ahead of a joint press conference.