Putin ally says Russia-EU crisis may be easing

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A senior Russian politician suggested on Thursday the worst was over in a crisis in relations between the European Union and Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine and called for better cooperation with Brussels.

The remarks by Alexei Pushkov, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, signalled a softening of Moscow's anti-Western rhetoric as it prepares to host a military parade on May 9 to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe.