EU Health Chief Says Believes Russia Deal Close

EU health chief Markos Kyprianou said an agreement could be within reach with Russia over its ban on Polish meat exports.

EU health chief Markos Kyprianou said an agreement could be within reach with Russia over its ban on Polish meat exports at a meeting with the Russian agriculture minister planned in Cyprus on April 21.

"I believe we are close, from what I can see today of course," Kyprianou told Reuters on Thursday. "It all remains to be discussed at our meeting but I think we are getting closer to resolving the issue."

Kyprianou said he planned to meet Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev in the Cypriot port town of Limassol on April 21. The dispute threatens to cast a shadow on an EU-Russian summit on May 18.