MOSCOW, April 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso brought their positions closer in their meeting Thursday and few disputes are left unsettled in Russia-EU ties now, a presidential aide said.

    Presidential aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky, who is Putin's special envoy for relations with the European Union (EU), said the meeting focused on "what needs to be done before the Russia-EU summit," schedule for May 10, Itar-Tass reported.

    "The (two) sides succeeded in moving forward in order to bring their positions closer," Yastrzhembsky was quoted as saying.

    "We're ending the months-long negotiation process on the four spaces and the 'roadmap'. We'll discuss the problems that exist inour relations," Yastrzhembsky added.

    Russia and the EU are trying to creating four new areas of mutual interest -- the economy; freedom, security and justice; external security; and culture, education and research.

    Yastrzhembsky admitted easing visa rules between Russia and countries of the Schengen zone and a readmission agreement with the EU were among the most difficult issues in relations. Visas are required for Russian citizens traveling to the EU and vice versa.

    "We think, and our European colleagues agree with us, that we might find common ground on these two issues by the summit," Yastrzhembsky was quoted by Interfax as saying after the meeting between Putin and Barroso.

    The Presidential aide also said Russia is "especially concernedabout the state of the Russian-speaking population in certain EU countries." Enditem