You're reading: Cameron to hold talks with Putin at judo match

LONDON — Prime Minister David Cameron says he plans to hold talks with Russia President Vladimir Putin next week at an Olympic judo match. 

Cameron confirmed Thursday that Putin would attend the Olympics — despite earlier doubts over whether he planned to visit the Summer Games.

Putin is a former judo competitor and a devotee of the sport.

Cameron last year used a visit to Moscow to end a freeze on top-level links following the 2006 poisoning death of dissident ex-Russian security agent Alexander Litvinenko in London. On his deathbed, Litvinenko accused Putin of ordering his killing.

However, Britain last week described Russia’s veto of a U.N. resolution on Syria as “inexcusable and indefensible.”

Cameron is expected to press Putin over ending violence in Syria, and to discuss efforts to boost trade.