European concerns over human rights have heightened since the murder of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006, and the killing of activist-journalist Anna Politkovskaya the same year. Russia has denied any involvement in either case.

Meanwhile, the US plan to build a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic remains a sticky issue that is likely to further strain Russia-US relations in the foreseeable future.

Russia has said the planned system, which includes a radar base in the Czech Republic and 10 missile interceptors in Poland, poses a threat to its security and would trigger a new arms race in the region.

However, the United States maintains that the system is aimed at states and groups in the Middle East that seek weapons of mass destruction, not against Russia.

In spite of these disputes, bilateral contact between Russia and some western partners has remained intense in recent years.

Medvedev plans to visit Germany, Russia's biggest trade partner, in June. Analysts believe Russia, while taking a pragmatic foreign approach, is not likely to give away any of its key European markets.

Trade volume between Germany and Russia rose to a record 52.8 billion US dollars in 2007. Germany, which relies heavily on Russia's oil and gas supply, invested 3.4 billion dollars in Russia last year, especially in the energy sector.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2008)