In the past, the union had been notorious for its inability to "sing from the same songbook" -- to use a phrase coined by a frustrated Chris Patten a few years ago when he was serving as the EU commissioner for external relations. Now, however, the bloc is showing signs it is determined to present a united front.

The EU's public health commissioner Markos Kyprianou has said that Russia must make clear in its farm-trade row with Poland whether it wants to "find a solution, or to maintain the problem."

The Kremlin's top advisor on relations with the European Union says reports of a crisis between Moscow and Brussels are "seriously exaggerated." Sergei Yastrzhembsky, a top aide to President Vladimir Putin, acknowledged that there are problems between Russia and the European Union, but said they do not constitute a crisis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding separate talks today in Moscow with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Putin first met Rice at his home in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also taking part.

EU foreign ministers discussing the EU-Russia summit agenda in Brussels today had little cause for optimism. There are growing signs that the May 18 talks in Samara may not result in much progress.In a break from tradition, there will be no joint statement underlining areas of agreement, and the EU appears to be focusing on damage control.

The EU-Russia summit in Samara, scheduled for May 18 on the banks of the River Volga, can perhaps still be salvaged. At least this is the hope the EU's foreign-policy chief, Javier Solana, expressed after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Luxembourg on April 23.

Despite the fact that a Russian ban on Polish meat and plant products remained unresolved after weekend talks, the European Union remained optimistic Monday about negotiations for a comprehensive but delayed strategic partnership accord with Russia next month.

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson is set today to warn that EU-Russia relations could go very wrong unless there are clearer rules governing the global energy trade.