Meeting between Russia, EU starts in Khabarovsk

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said at the beginning of the meeting that senior Russian and EU officials will discuss an extremely wide range of issues, including the ongoing financial crisis and energy security. The Russia-EU summit are held at a time both sides are trying to mend ties. But analysts expected little outcome from the summit as broad differences remain. Russia is the EU's third biggest trade partner and supplies about a quarter of the gas consumed in the EU. EU leaders may also try to convince Russians that its Eastern Partnership program, which will draw six former Soviet republics closer to the bloc, is not aimed at Russia; Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.news.xinhuanet.com for full version.