European Union foreign ministers on Monday gave the formal go ahead for the start of talks with Russia on a new partnership accord, ending an almost two-year impasse, the E.U.'s Slovenian presidency said.
The E.U. foreign ministers gave the talks the green light at the start of a meeting in Brussels.
"The point was passed", a diplomat said.
The agreement was made possible after Lithuania, the last member state blocking the talks, was persuaded that its grievances over Russian energy supplies and Moscow's stance on Georgia would be addressed.