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Boris Johnson today told Vladimir Putin that 'significant bilateral difficulties remain' in the relationship between the UK and Russia. 

The Prime Minister told the Russian President during a telephone call this afternoon that the current relationship with Moscow 'is not the one we want'. 

But he said issues including the 2018 Salisbury nerve agent attack and Russia’s actions in Ukraine mean the two nations are still at odds. 

Mr Johnson welcomed Russia's recent commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2060 - but urged his counterpart to go further and bring forward the target to 2050.         

Boris Johnson today told Vladimir Putin that 'significant bilateral difficulties remain' in the relationship between the UK and Russia

The Prime Minister told the Russian President during a telephone call this afternoon that the current relationship with Moscow 'is not the one we want'

The two leaders spoke ahead of the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow which is due to get underway next Sunday. 

The Kremlin said last week that Mr Putin will not be attending the gathering of world leaders because of the worsening coronavirus situation in Russia. 

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister spoke to Russian President Putin this afternoon ahead of the COP26 Summit.

'He welcomed the steps Russia has taken in recent days to commit net zero by 2060. The Prime Minister expressed his hope that Russia will raise that target to achieving net zero by 2050 as well as making further progress on ending deforestation and an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution.

'President Putin expressed his regret that he would not be able attend the COP26 Summit in person in the light of the coronavirus situation in Russia.

'The Prime Minister was clear that the UK's current relationship with Russia is not the one we want. 

'He said significant bilateral difficulties remain, including the poisonings in Salisbury in 2018. 

'The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of Ukrainian sovereignty.'

Mr Johnson told Mr Putin that despite the difficult relationship between the two countries they have a 'responsibility to work together to tackle shared challenges'. 

'The Prime Minister said that as fellow permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world economies with a long, shared history, the UK and Russia have a responsibility to work together to tackle shared challenges like climate change and safeguard international agreements like the Iran Nuclear Deal,' Number 10 said. 

'The leaders also discussed the current situation in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of any recognition of the Taliban being conditional on their behaviour, including respect for human rights.'