The delegation included Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Umberto Ranieri, Italian Deputy Foreign Minister.
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Vladimir Kalamanov, Special Presidential Representative for Human Rights in Chechnya, represented Russia at the meeting.
Mr Putin emphasised that Russia’s relations with the European Union were a key element of its foreign policy.
Speaking about the EU representatives’ recent trip to the Chechen Republic, Mr Putin expressed hope that they would consider Russia’s arguments carefully and impartially.
In the morning, the European Union delegation held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.
Based on the results of negotiations in Moscow and taking into account Mr Schwimmer’s and Mr Ranieri’s visit to Chechnya, the President of the EU Council of Ministers and Secretary General of the Council of Europe will make a presentation to the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on June 27.