Russian President Vladimir Putin will be in Brussels on Friday to attend the 30th EU-Russia summit meeting.
EU and Russian leaders will discuss the political and economic situation in Russia and in the EU, along with strategic perspectives for EU-Russia relations.
A wide range of bilateral and international will also be on the agenda with the focus on the situation in Syria, the Middle East and North Africa, the Mideast peace process and the Iranian nuclear programme.
Speaking ahead of the summit, EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy, who will chair the EU delegation, said: "The hosting of our 30th summit is tribute to the indispensable nature of our partnership and is once again an important opportunity to take stock of progress and to discuss open issues and concerns across the broad span of EU-Russia relations."
"We have good prospects for enhancing our solid political cooperation – from domestic judicial reform and the fight against corruption to the situation in the Middle East or the issues of Afghanistan or Iran – alongside concerns over developments affecting civil society and fundamental rights," he added.
The Russian President on Thursday distanced himself further than ever from Syria's embattled leader, suggesting that Bashar al-Assad's regime is growing weaker while warning that his decline could exacerbate the country's crisis.
Putin insisted, however, that Russia's position on the conflict has not changed and that only a negotiated agreement could "prevent a breakup of the country and an endless civil war."
Russia has stood staunchly by Assad throughout the 21-month conflict, providing his forces with weapons and, along with China, protecting his government from censure by the UN Security Council for its violent crackdown on the opposition.