Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today that Europe must talk to Russia and not simply talk about it.
Dr Muscat was holding a meeting with Russian deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich in St Petersburg.
Echoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Dr Muscat said the EU has spent too many years talking about Russia, rather than engaging with it.
The time had come for more genuine cooperation while acknowledging there were big issues of principles between the two blocs which still needed to be resolved.
"I believe in the near future Malta will improve its relations with Russia and will identify the sectors on which to work together," Dr Muscat said.
The Russia prime minister said he looked forward to explore new opportunities for investment between the two countries.