Rusland bereid te praten over EU-betrokkenheid in Tsjetsjenië (en)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signalled a readiness to discuss EU involvement to ease the situation in war-torn Chechnya.

On a visit to Germany (20 December), Mr Putin said, "I would like to say that we have studied these proposals with great care in Moscow. We completely accept the proposals", according to Reuters.

Mr Putin is said to be willing to accept economic help in resolving the conflict, rather than political aid. Russia has always refused foreign intervention in what it terms a domestic battle.

The Financial Times Deutschland reports that Germany and Russia will set up a "dialogue forum" to discuss the Chechnya situation.

The Russian President's two-day visit to Germany comes in the wake of recent tensions between the EU and Russia, notably over the crisis in Ukraine.

But Mr Putin enjoys a good relationship with German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and said he was prepared to discuss the Ukraine issue with him, as well as internal reforms in Russia.

Furthermore, sources quoted by Reuters said that Russia was preparing to pay off some of its foreign debt - which could net Germany up to six billion US dollars as soon as January.

This would be a great help for Germany as it struggles to bring Germany's budget under the ceiling of three percent of gross domestic product demanded by Brussels.