Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned against overestimating the current diplomatic spat between London and Moscow. "I am convinced that we will sort out this mini-crisis," Putin was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.
Russia responded Thursday to Britain's expulsion of four of its diplomats from London over Moscow's refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoi by expelling four British diplomats from Moscow and announcing it would no longer issue visas to British officials or cooperate in the fight against terrorism.
Lugovoi is the main suspect in the murder of former KGB agent and British citizen Alexander Litvinenko, killed by radioactive poisoning in London in November.
"I think that Russian-British relations will return to normal," Putin said after the Russian Foreign Ministry move to ban visas for British diplomats.
Both sides should weigh up their dealings with "sound common sense" and take their respective laws and interests into consideration, Putin said.
"Then everything will turn out for the best," Putin said.
