The ghost of Alexander Litvinenko loomed large over talks between Britain and Russia yesterday, on the third anniversary of his fatal poisoning.

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, flew to Moscow determined to focus on issues of “common ground” with Russia, such as Iran’s nuclear ambitions and stability in Afghanistan. But little progress was made and focus was rapidly dragged back to the source of discord: the murder of the dissident former security agent in London three years ago.

At a joint press conference that offered few signs of warmth between the two foreign ministers, Mr Miliband and Sergei Lavrov laid out competing versions of the Litvinenko saga, with the Foreign Secretary pressing for extradition of the main suspect while Mr Lavrov insisted that the demand was unrealistic.

The Crown Prosecution Service has passed a file to the Russian Government seeking extradition of Andrei Lugovoy, a former KGB officer, to stand trial in London for murder. Moscow says the file is incomplete, and that its constitution bars extradition of Russian citizens.

“I believe our British colleagues understand their demand — that we amend our constitution — is absolutely unrealistic,” said Mr Lavrov.

Mr Miliband said that he would continue to press for extradition of Mr Lugovoy, now a member of parliament, for the “horrible murder” of a British citizen on the streets of the capital.

Mr Miliband’s Moscow visit, the first by a foreign secretary for five years, was never going to be straightforward, balancing Britain’s continuing sense of outrage with the need to do business with Russia on matters of global significance, most urgently seeking Russian support for possible sanctions on Iran.

While the change of Administration in Washington has brought a self-declared “reset” of previously poor relations, not even a change of Government in London can make the Litvinenko affair go away. It ended security co-operation, led to diplomatic expulsions and the closure of two British Council offices outside Moscow — with no progress on any of these issues yesterday.

Mr Miliband told Ekho Moskvy radio later that nothing could be resolved while Russia refused three British demands. He said that Moscow had to answer questions about possible involvement of Russian secret services; provide assurances that there would be no repeat incident; and extradite Mr Lugovoy. But he said that these issues should not obstruct co-operation in other areas in which Britain and Russia share interests.

Litvinenko’s widow, Marina, described Mr Miliband’s trip to Moscow on the third anniversary of the attack as a great disappointment.

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