LUXEMBOURG (AP) _ Russia's foreign minister expressed misgivings Tuesday over European Union plans to forge close economic and political ties with six ex-Soviet republics.

The minister, Sergey Lavrov, said he "would very much like to believe" assurances the EU is not entering Moscow's backyard by locking Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus into an eastern partnership.

Such a pact will include closer political and economic ties.

"We would like very much to believe this," Lavrov told reporters after talks with EU officials. But he added "some of the comments we have heard from the EU side do worry us."

He said Moscow would "wait and see" what emerges from a May 7 summit in Prague at which the EU's eastern outreach agreement will be formally signed.

The aim of the partnership is to cement closer ties with ex-Soviet republics that border the 27-nation bloc, but where Moscow retains much sway.

The EU will offer its eastern neighbors free trade, millions in economic aid, regular security consultations, economic integration to its vast single European market, technical expertise and visa-free travel. The partnership obliges the neighbors to commit to democracy, the rule of law and sound economic and human rights policies.

Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg rejected Russian concerns. "I am sure Russia will see this time that it's not against them. It is purely a development project," he told reporters.

Lavrov's comments showed how testy EU-Russia ties remain after last summer's war in Georgia and fractious energy relations that led to a cutoff of Russian gas deliveries to Western Europe in January.

The EU's partnership plan, which will aim to spend -1.4 billion ($1.8 billion) between now and 2013, does not promise EU membership to the neighbors. The EU defends the partnership as an effort to build security on its borders saying that is good for the EU and its neighbors.

Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief said EU-Russian relations were improving in parallel to better ties between Moscow and Washington.

The EU is backing U.S.-Russia negotiations on a a new treaty to reduce nuclear weapon stockpiles.___

AP Writer Robert Wielaard contributed to this report.