Russian President Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have patched up their differences on Iraq. The two leaders met over lunch at Downing Street on the third day of Putin's state visit to the United Kingdom. Blair said disagreements about the Iraq war had not derailed bilateral relations. "Whatever the differences over Iraq, however, we are working immensely closely on the international stage to confront the issues before us - issues to do with international terrorism, to do with weapons of mass destruction, issues to do with bringing peace and stability to the world," he said during a joint press conference at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. Last time the two men met, Putin mocked Blair over the lack of evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. This time, however, the president struck a conciliatory note. "For our part, we will do all we can to help the situation in Iraq," Putin said. "We are working together in a positive way. For example, cooperation between our intelligence services is growing every day. They're in constant contact, over Afghanistan and over the struggle against international terrorism." Closer economic ties, the Middle East peace process and the Chechnya conflict were also on the agenda. Putin's state visit is the first by a Russian leader since Tsar Alexander II visited the United Kingdom in 1874. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair at a news conference in London, June 26, 2003. (REUTERS/Pool)