The German Government is hopeful a meeting between Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt and his Russian counterpart Nikolay Fyodorov will help relax the eastern country's import embargo on food products from the EU.

German Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt will meet with Russian counterpart Nikolay Fyodorov this week. Photo: BMEL/photothek.net/Thomas Köhler.

The upcoming meeting, to take place on Jan. 16 during International Green Week Berlin, was revealed by magazine Wirtschaftswoche.

Schmidt told the publication he wanted to discuss the matter with Fyodorov, highlighting a concession from Russia "could help to improve relations".

The minister told Wirtschaftswoche he hoped for a "speedy return to the traditionally good agricultural relations between both countries", but said this would not mean a automatic end to Western economic sanctions against Russia.

Russia's delegation will have 3,600 square meters (38,750 square feet) of exhibition space at the trade fair, making the country the largest single user, the story reported.

The Moscow Times reported Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics - whose country took over the EU's rotating presidency this year - told a news conference the union would consider lifting sanctions against Russia if "real progress" were made in implementing a cease-fire deal in the Ukraine.

"We think the sanctions imposed over east Ukraine can be lifted when we see not only agreements signed but real progress," Rinkevics told reporters after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"If we see real progress, the European Union will be ready to seriously consider easing or lifting the sanctions."

The effects of Russia's ban continue to be seen through the level of interceptions of "gray trade" produce items. For example, on Jan. 8 alone Russian authorities sent back 60 metric tons (MT) of fruits and vegetables re-exported from the Belarus, one third of which were Polish apples.

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