Russia has called for international support for the former Soviet states, as an effective quid pro quo for backing Britain’s proposals for helping Africa. Following a meeting on Monday with Tony Blair, the British prime minister and current Group of Eight chairman, president Vladimir Putin said Russia “fully supported” the agenda on Africa and climate change set by the UK for next month’s G8 summit.

But Mr Putin made it clear he wants Britain to reciprocate this endorsement by backing proposals to help the Commonwealth of Independent States when Russia takes over the G8 presidency next year. “Hopefully next year we will be able to impartially assess the situation in these countries with our colleagues. We don’t always have easy going relations, especially with some of the CIS countries, but they want support,” Mr Putin said. “We need not turn this CIS space into a battle field -- rather we should turn it into a space of cooperation.” The countries he highlighted as needing international backing included Georgia and Moldova.