Russia, NATO relations may be thawing

MOSCOW, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Russian and NATO ambassadors talked informally Monday, opening the possibility of full cooperation between Russia and the military alliance, officials said.

Relations between NATO and Russia were at their lowest since the end of the Cold War last summer after Russian and Georgian troops confronted each other over the breakaway province of South Ossetia, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported. While full cooperation has been absent, Russia still works with NATO on arms control, cooperation in airspace and the war in Afghanistan.

NATO foreign ministers agreed in early December to gradually restore contacts with Moscow.