EU leaders have arrived in Russia's Far East, where they will hold discussions on trade and energy, and try to rebuild the relationship with Russia, BBC reported.
Russia and the EU are each other's biggest trading partner, but political tensions remain high.
Russia recently accused the EU of creating new dividing lines in Europe by offering closer ties to six former Soviet republics.
And Russia's control of gas supplies to Europe remains a bone of contention.
So no breakthroughs are therefore expected at the twice-yearly summit, this time being held in the city of Khabarovsk, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu.
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso arrived at the city's airport at around 1900 local time (0800 GMT), shortly after foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Czech President Vaclav Klaus.
The Russian delegation is led by President Dmitry Medvedev.
The choice of Khabarovsk has raised some eyebrows, our correspondent says.
A 10-hour flight from Brussels, but just 30km from China, it gives EU leaders not only a chance to see just how vast Russia is, but also that Moscow has alternative partners in the Far East, she says.
EU officials say that in dealing with Moscow, there are no easy issues and little trust, she reports.
There is growing concern in Brussels about Russia's recent increase of customs duties on a wide range of European imports, including steel, starch and TV screens - despite its pledge to fight protectionism along with its G20 partners.
The EU is also speeding up efforts to find alternative energy supplies, after Russia turned off the gas to millions of Europeans last winter due to a price row with Ukraine.
President Medvedev will push for a new energy charter and a new European security treaty, but neither idea is likely to get more than a polite reception from the EU, our correspondent says.
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