**David Miliband is due in Moscow for the first visit to Russia in five years by a British Foreign Secretary.**Relations between the UK and the Kremlin reached a low after the murder in London of Russian emigre Alexander Litvinenko in November 2006.
Mr Miliband says Britain still does not always “see eye to eye” with Russia but acknowledges it is a world power and an important trading partner.
Official talks are expected to focus on Iran, the Middle East and Afghanistan.
The last British foreign secretary to visit Russia was Jack Straw in 2004.
ANALYSIS
Bridget Kendall, BBC diplomatic correspondentNot since July 2004 has a British Foreign Secretary been to Moscow - an extraordinarily long time, given the volume of trade between the two countries and the global problems they are both concerned about.But relations were plunged into a freeze following the tit for tat diplomatic expulsions that followed the Litvenenko murder.
On the eve of Mr Miliband’s arrival in Moscow the Russian ambassador to London was still blaming Britain for an “anachronistic” attitude and “artificial barriers” which stood in the way of improved relations.
Both countries agree they need to work together. But neither side seem to think they’ll find a way past their deep seated disagreements.
But Prime Minister Gordon Brown has spoken frequently with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev at international summits.
And Mr Miliband has held regular talks elsewhere with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, who he will meet for dinner later.
Writing on his blog, Mr Miliband said: "We don’t always see eye to eye with Russia but we share the same global challenges and it is important that we work on them together.
“The wealth of people-to-people contacts and the dynamic business links which have grown between Britain and Russia over the last 20 years make political engagement all the more important.”
The Foreign Office said Mr Miliband would meet a range of politicians, business leaders and representatives of civil society before returning home on Tuesday.
A spokeswoman said: “Russia matters greatly to finding ways to address the major global challenges which we face.”
She added: “Where we disagree we state our positions frankly… We want a stable, long term relationship with Russia. The foreign secretary is going to Russia to take that agenda forward.”
MPs’ letter
Relations between Britain and Russia took a turn for the worse after former Russian security agent Mr Litvinenko was poisoned.
Moscow refused UK requests to extradite chief suspect Andrei Lugovoi and several tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions took place as the row rumbled on.
Relations worsened further when Moscow ordered the closure of British Council offices due to alleged tax irregularities.
There have also been tensions over spying claims and a struggle over BP’s interests in Russia.
Meanwhile, a group of MPs has urged Mr Miliband to raise human rights issues with Mr Lavrov.
A letter signed by the likes of Labour’s Tom Watson, Tory Julie Kirkbride and Liberal Democrat Julia Goldsworthy, highlights concerns over the fraud trial of former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, which his supporters claim is politically motivated.
“It is clear that the UK must raise concerns regarding Russia’s lack of respect for human rights, property rights and rule of law; and challenge the use of national energy providers as an aggressive foreign policy tool which isolates Russia from the rest of the international community,” they say.
Mr Miliband’s visit comes as Downing Street plays down a story in the Sunday Times which says Gordon Brown is backing him to be the EU foreign affairs chief.
A source said David Miliband has made it clear that he was not a candidate and not available.