Resetting Russia relations? UK's Boris Johnson to visit Moscow

UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson will head to Moscow in the coming weeks for "high-level political talks" with Russian officials, the first visit by a British official in five years.

Johnson's visit marks a possible thawing in tensions between the UK and Russia, which have been rocked by a series of political disagreements including Moscow's role in the Ukraine and Syria wars.

Despite the signs that London and Moscow might be resetting relations, a foreign office spokesperson still noted caution.

"Our policy towards Russia is to 'engage but beware' and the visit is entirely consistent with this approach," the spokeswoman said.

"Discussions will focus on the UK-Russia relationship and current international issues including Syria and Ukraine, where we continue to have significant differences.

Relations between the UK and Russia soured after the killing of Kremlin critic and former spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.

The UK has also been a key backer of sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Crimea in Ukraine and Moscow's role in the ongoing fighting in the country by the Ukrainian government and Russian separatists.

"This is not a return to business as usual and the foreign secretary will continue to be robust on those issues where we differ."

The spokeswoman said a visit had been in the pipeline since British Prime Minister Theresa May met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China in September 2016.

Johnson and Lavrov held their first telephone talks in August the same year.

Johnson has described Putin as a "ruthless and manipulative tyrant", and compared his looks to the Harry Potter character Dobby the House Elf. 

But Johnson has also called for cooperation with Russia against the Islamic State group in Syria.

Johnson has also hinted at a shift in the UK's Syria policy, saying President Bashar al-Assad could be allowed to run for re-election and mentioning a possible "arrangement" with regime ally Russia.

The UK has been one of the harshest critics of Russia's Syria policy and the Assad regime, saying the president's departure is a precondition for any resolution to the conflict.