Picture this perhaps:
Dave Cameron: Ah, Vlad, yes thanks for taking my call.
Vlad Putin: Dave baby, how can I help?
DC: Spot of bother here old chap. You know you need a bit of foreign currency and an easing of sanctions etc, well how would you like us to help with that?
VP: Yeah, times are a bit hard here too, what can I do?
DC: Since there are no wars currently planned and me and Barak are being pressurised by those global conglomerates that make biggest money from arms etc Any chance of sending a couple of aircraft, ships or submarines to sniff around our EU borders? I'm a bit concerned about our Armed Forces manning and equipment levels, but nobody would listen in our political system. But if you rattle a sabre or two, we might well be able to sort it that way - you know what our media are like.
VP: Da, I can do that, would Bears be sufficient? Ah, how about I stick a couple of submarines into the Baltic and send the odd fighter up acting a bit aggressively too. I appreciate you'll have to talk tough, but if you then back off on the sanctions etc, it would help this end too.
DC: We think we have a bit of influence with Barak, you'll know we both have imminent elections and frankly we need something external to show what kind of statesmen we are. We can't just rely on winding up the Muslim IS outfit as that'll influence our re-armament in the wrong direction for maximum profits.
VP: Anything else?
DC: That'll do for me then. Perhaps we'll share a glass or two when we next meet comrade - my little joke eh? Should sort out that plonker Milibland and keep UKIP on side too.