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BP chief executive Tony Hayward believes it could take months to patch up the company's dispute in Russia, but appeared to take a softer line on the escalating row with its partners in the TNK-BP joint venture.

Talks aimed at resolving control of TNK-BP have stalled amid claims that the Russians were returning to 1990s-style "corporate raiding".

In a email to staff, Mr Hayward said: "The Russia team are working hard to understand how we can best restore the relationships. These negotiations are both sensitive and complex. I don't expect them to be resolved quickly. This is a dialogue that will likely take months rather than weeks."

He said the dispute stemmed from "disagreement about direction and ownership moving forward".

BP owns 50pc of TNK-BP, and the Alfa-Access-Renova Group (AAR) run by billionaires Viktor Vekselberg, Mikhail Fridman, and Len Blavatnik, holding the rest.

It wants TNK-BP chief executive Robert Dudley sacked. But BP is sticking by Mr Dudley.

Mr Hayward said BP's relationship with AAR has not completely soured. "I remain optimistic," he said.

On Thursday, BP chairman Peter Sutherland said the Russian government should intervene to halt the "return to the corporate raiding activities" by the Russian businessmen.

Mr Fridman responded: "We find Mr. Sutherland's comment unhelpful and, frankly, insulting to the Russian leadership."