The Russian freeze on Moldovan wine is finally thawing out. Silly, silly, but what was a huge issues that I saw on just about every web site known to man a few months back is soon to become just a distant memory.

From Russia to Lift Ban on Moldovan Wine:

President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia would lift a ban on imports of Moldovan wine, which had dealt a blow to the country's economy.

After a meeting at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow with Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, Putin emphasized a thaw in the chilly relations between the leaders.

"In general, our ties have been progressing pretty well, especially economic ties. Our mutual trade turnover has grown by 99 percent since 2005 to reach nearly $1 billion," he told reporters.

"The Russian government has sent appropriate instructions about the delivery of Moldovan wine to the Russian market," he said.

After Russia imposed the ban last year citing the poor quality of the wines, Moldova complained that Moscow was using economic sanctions as a political weapon following its adoption of a more independent, pro-European foreign policy.