The agenda of the meeting will be comprehensive, covering a broad range of global, bi- and multilateral issues. However, no major breakthrough is expected in any of the areas. Alongside the thorny developments in Chechnya, other global hot-spots such as Iraq, Iran and Syria will also be reviewed at the dinner table.
Russia's alleged "backsliding on democracy", which was one of US President George Bush's major points during his recent summit with Putin in Bratislava, is also expected to be discussed, although any Western criticism that is voiced is likely to be muted and mild.
One of Putin's main aims is to win a commitment from the three leaders to attend the World War Two victory celebrations in Moscow on 9 May. Participation in the celebrations has already been rejected by Estonia and Lithuania.
The summit is likely to be viewed critically by the Baltic states and Poland. These countries have been opposed to the recent efforts by France and Germany to strengthen EU-Russia ties.
The EU aims to conclude talks with Russia on the so-called four 'common spaces' by 2007. This package covers the economy, justice and internal security, external security and education and culture. Within that framework, the summit discussions will also cover trade and economic contacts and the prospects of high-tech partnership.
