London – British Prime Minister David Cameron and Russia President Vladimir Putin are holding Olympic talks - and there's likely to be violence.

The British chief meets his counterpart on Thursday for discussions at Downing Street, but plans to also take the Russian chief to London's Olympic Park for matches in the judo competition.

Putin is a former judo competitor and a devotee of the martial art.

Cameron will press Putin over Russia's refusal to back a new resolution at UN on Syria.

Britain called the decision by Russia and China to veto a resolution two weeks ago as "inexcusable and indefensible".

Ties between Russia and Britain have been strained since the 2006 poisoning death of dissident ex-Russian security agent Alexander Litvinenko in London.

On his deathbed, Litvinenko accused Putin of ordering his killing.