Putin said that Russia's relations with Portugal "are developing very successfully" and suggested Portugal's EU presidency, which begins July 1, could bring progress in strained ties between Moscow and the EU.

"We are hoping that when Portugal chairs the EU, a new impulse will be given to Russia's relations with its European partners," Putin said during a Kremlin meeting that included members of a large Portuguese delegation.

A prickly exchange over human rights at the twice-yearly Russia-EU summit Putin hosted earlier this month underscored tension in the relationship, plagued by European concerns over resource-rich Russia's energy policy and other issues.

Talks on a new Russia-EU partnership accord have been blocked by Warsaw over a Russia ban of meat imports from Poland, reflecting tension between Russia and some of the newer EU members that are former Soviet republics or satellites, and no agreements were signed at the summit.

"We face the crucial task of reaching a ... strategic agreement between Russia and the EU," Socrates told a news conference after their meetings. "Portugal is moving toward its chairmanship with this goal."

Socrates made a conciliatory remark when asked whether the issue of human rights came up, saying that Russia and EU nations should share common values of human rights, democracy and freedom of speech "but these values should be developed without teaching one another morals."

Putin has repeatedly accused the West of lecturing to Russia on human rights and democracy, including at the recent summit, during which German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized him over the Russia government's treatment of critics.

Putin said Russia where also wants a new accord with the EU, but emphasized that it would not make unreasonable concessions for the sake of a deal. "We want to sign such an agreement, but proceed from the assumption that it will be signed in the interest of both sides," he said.

He said Russia has offered to open its market to imports of meat from a number of Polish plants, easing the ban that has prompted Poland to block negotiations on a new Russia-EU agreement. But he criticized Poland over the issue.

"We believe this is quite a clear signal of our intent to cooperate and resolve this question," Putin said. "We do not think this problem should be politicized, and when we hear bellicose declarations from our Polish colleagues — this does not help resolve the problems."

Putin also suggested the EU should acknowledge a problem with meat exported from Poland, citing what he said was the confiscation in Germany of a shipment of Polish meat.

"Soon I will meet with my colleague Angela Merkel in the framework of the G-8," Putin said, referring to a Group of Eight summit next week in Germany. "I will not tell her: 'You don't want to eat this meat, but you want to shove it over to me.' I won't tell her that, of course. But in fact, the confiscation ... shows that a problem with the quality of the meat exists."

Socrates said the large Portuguese delegation, which included business leaders, "underlines the new ambitions for our relations in economics, politics and culture."

The volume of bilateral trade between Russia and Portugal increased by 13 percent in 2006 to reach nearly US$1.4 billion (€1 billion), according to the Kremlin.