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Developing trade and investment ties between the two countries was one of the main subjects discussed during the talks.

As part of Mr Putin’s visit to Luxembourg, Russian companies Gazprom and Novolipetsk Steelworks signed a number of agreements with partners in Luxembourg.

Mr Putin and Mr Juncker gave a joint press conference following their talks.

Mr Putin said the talks were positive.

Answering journalists’ questions, the President said that Russia remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear problem.

On the issue of U.S. deployment of a missile defence system in Europe, Mr Putin said that the United States is ignoring the views of European countries in carrying out its plans. Russia has proposed to Washington discussing in the OSCE the question of whether elements of a U.S. missile defence system should be deployed in Europe.

The President said that Western criticism about democracy and human rights in Russia is motivated by, among other things, a desire to put pressure on Moscow and make it ‘more compliant’ on a number of international issues unrelated to democracy and human rights. Common criteria should be applied to all countries when it comes to assessing the situation with human rights, the President said.

Mr Putin said that a strategic partnership between Russia and the European Union remains in place. Russia is not dramatising the differences in opinion that have arisen in relations with the EU and is ready to look for compromise solutions. The President said he hopes that Luxembourg will contribute to resolving the problems between Russia and the European Union.