An American delegation has arrived in Moscow to discuss a massive Western food aid package for Russia amid growing warnings of severe food shortages this winter.

Embarrassed to seek US help

Until now, the Russian Government has tried to play down or even deny reports that it is seeking food aid from the West.

But the visit by an American delegation to Moscow has brought the issue out into the open.

The Americans say they have been asked to supply significant quantities of meat, rice and grains.

They plan to hammer out the details over the next couple of days.

The European Union is also expected to contribute although it says it has not received a formal request from the Russians yet.

According to some estimates, the entire package could be worth well over a billion dollars.

Russia faces severe winter

Russian officials appear to be embarrassed about asking the West for help of this sort but they now appear to have little choice.

Food imports have dried up since the rouble's collapse in August.

This year's wheat harvest was the worst in 40 years and the potato crop has also been hit hard by disease.

Russia's icy northern provinces are particularly at risk.

They rely entirely on outside food supplies during the long Arctic winter.

But so far, they have received only a fraction of what they need to survive.

The Red Cross has warned of mass starvation if the situation continues to deterioriate.

Western governments are reluctant to lend more money to Russia at the moment, fearing it will simply be squandered or stolen.

But food aid is seen as a more practical and effective way of helping the country through what promises to be an extremely difficult winter.