The European Union is expected to unblock an aid package for Russia, frozen last year at the height of Moscow's military campaign in Chechnya.
The EU foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels on Monday, will once again call for a peaceful solution in the province.
They will also discuss the EU's sanctions policy against Yugoslavia.
The EU foreign ministers are expected to unblock up to $60m in aid for Russia, to signal their desire to engage with the new Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Fresh start
The package was frozen last December, amid EU protests that Moscow was using indiscriminate force against civilians in Chechnya.
"We want a fresh start," one EU diplomat said, "but it is not business as usual."
The aid programme will be refocused on democracy and support for the civil society and the independent media.
In his recent state of the nation address, President Putin said Russia's military campaign in Chechnya was part of the efforts to combat what he called international terrorism.
Balkan debate
After a televised debate on the issue on Monday morning, the EU foreign ministers are likely to extend until next March the suspension of the commercial flights ban imposed on Yugoslavia during last year's Kosovo conflict.
In another attempt to ease the impact of the sanctions on ordinary Serbs, the EU published earlier this month a white list of some 200 companies regarded as legitimate trading partners.
The foreign ministers will also discuss plans for an EU-Balkans summit, to be held in Croatia in late November, in order to foster democracy in the countries neighbouring Yusgoslavia.