Putin and Schroeder hold talks in Ural

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin are meeting for a two-day summit in Russia's Ural region for talks on economic and political cooperation. Germany is Russia's biggest economic partner - 11 percent of Russian exports go to Germany. Top of the agenda is an ambitious plan by leading Russian and German energy firms to build a pipeline through the Baltic, a deal which could also involve Britain and the Netherlands. Russian-EU relations are also expected to dominate talks - Russia will directly border the European bloc after it expands eastwards next May. A common declaration to ease visa laws between the two countries is on the cards, following the Kremlin's repeated requests for freer movement for its citizens within Europe. A UN resolution on Iraq will also be discussed. Both Berlin and Moscow opposed the US-led war there.