"Speaking about our bilateral relations, I would voice a timid hope that they may be going in the direction of improvement now," Interfax reported Slutsky as telling reporters on Monday.

In contacts with Estonian parliamentarians, it is necessary to seek common ground, not differences betwen the two countries, he noted. In addition, joint sessions of the relevant committees of both countries' parliaments could be held and delegations exchanged.

"At the same time, no matter what sympathies we have with each other and maybe similar, if not the same, positions [we have] on some international issues, we are still frustrated by things such as the existence of the Museum of Occupations in Tallinn or non-citizens — in Latvia as well," the Russian lawmaker said, adding that there was no such term in international law.

All of these issues need to be discussed and for this to happen, there need to be meetings, Slutsky said.