Russia says mulling meeting with Georgian leader

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is considering a request from Georgia for the rival nations' leaders to meet next month, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

Russia is at odds with its Caucasus neighbour over Georgia's plan to join NATO. Moscow also supports Georgia's rebel South Ossetia and Abkhazia and has a military presence in the rebel regions. It has banned Georgian imports.

Tensions have mounted and Georgia says war was only narrowly averted earlier this month.

Georgia's ambassador to Russia Erosi Kitsmarishvili said on Tuesday Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili could meet in early June.

"The Georgian side has sent such a request. It is being considered at this moment. The dates are being determined," a Kremlin spokeswoman said.

Georgia's envoy said the meeting could be held during the St Petersburg economic forum on June 6-8.

The Kremlin also said it was preparing a meeting between Medvedev and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, but gave no details. It is unclear if Yushchenko will visit the St Petersburg forum.

Kiev's aspirations to join NATO have alarmed Moscow, leading Medvedev's predecessor Vladimir Putin to speculate Russia could retarget its missiles at Ukraine should it allow foreign states to deploy military bases on its land.

(Reporting by Denis Dyomkin; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Janet Lawrence)