SOCHI, Russia, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed broadening the presence of British energy company BP in Russia during a visit with top executives, the Kremlin said.
BP Chief Executive Officer Bob Dudley arrived in Russia to meet with Putin at the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
"The meeting discussed the continuation and broadening of BP's presence on the Russian market, as well as prospects for cooperation with Russian companies," the Daily Telegraph newspaper in London reports, citing a Kremlin statement.
A Russian court in July ordered BP to pay $3.1 billion in damages to its Russian joint venture TNK-BP for a failed Rosneft deal. TNK-BP said BP's proposal to work with the Russian company violated terms of its shareholder agreement with BP.
BP had said it was interested in the potential sale of its stake in TNK-BP following a move by Alfa Access Renova, which represents Russian interests in the joint venture, to purchase part, or all, of BP's half.
A spokesman for the British company was quoted as saying the meeting with Putin was to "update the president on the progress of the sale and to reaffirm our commitment to Russia."
The Telegraph reported that the talks may have opened the door for BP to explore Russian shale gas or work in the arctic.
