Russia President Vladimir Putin predicted relations with Britain will develop normally in spite of recent expulsions of diplomats.

Putin's tone Thursday night in his first public statement on the diplomatic crisis was far milder than that used by the Russian Foreign Ministry. The British ambassador, Anthony Brenton, was told abruptly that four embassy staff members had 10 days to get out of Russia, the Times of London reported.

Russia also banned British officials from visiting and said it won't cooperate in anti-terrorism efforts.

I think that Russian-British relations will develop normally, Putin said in The Times article. On both the Russian side and the British side we are interested in the development of these relations. I'm sure we will overcome this mini-crisis.

The crisis stems from the killing of Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB agent living in London who was poisoned with polonium. Russia has refused to extradite the suspect identified by Scotland Yard, Andrei Lugovoy, also a former KGB officer.

Britain responded by expelling Russian diplomats.

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