Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Britain today for a historic state visit aimed at repairing diplomatic damage from the Iraq war but is likely to see more pomp than hard bargaining.
Putin is also hungry for foreign investment to pump up his country's economy and will be wooing British industry.
In the first state visit by a Russian head of state since Tsar Alexander II in 1874, Mr Putin was met by Prince Charles and driven to central London for a ceremonial welcome by the Queen and a military guard of honour.
The former KGB spy will stay at the palace, dine with the Queen, visit the tomb of the unknown warrior, talk with Prime Minister Tony Blair, go to Scotland, open an energy conference and meet British businessmen in a four-day tour.
But Mr Putin, popular at home and up for re-election next March, faces international condemnation for his clampdown on breakaway Chechnya and nuclear cooperation with Iran.
He risks more criticism for his closure at the weekend of Russia's last independent television station.
Russian newspapers underscored the Russian leader's need to rebuild bridges with Britain and the United States.
Diplomats will be watching to see if he soothes British pride after his taunting of Blair in April over the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
"Relations between our two countries are excellent and continue to go from strength to strength," Mr Blair's spokesman insisted.
Although Mr Blair and Mr Putin will meet privately for only half an hour during the visit, the two will have other opportunities to chat at the royal ceremonies and an energy conference.
The visit may bring finalisation of a $6.75 billion deal, in which oil company BP would buy a 50 percent stake in TNK, Russia's third largest oil company.
Human rights groups are urging Mr Blair to turn up the heat on Mr Putin over his war against Chechen rebels.