"The first formal round of talks is currently due to be held. The place and the date are under discussion. I hope it will take place this year. Usually, such talks cannot be limited by a single round but require two or three years of discussions," Elkin, who also co-chairs the Israeli-Russia intergovernmental commission, told RIA Novosti.
The decision to launch negotiations with Israel was reached at an EEU summit of Russian, Armenian, Belarusian, Kazakh and Kyrgyz leaders in October 2015.
"Russia, of course, triggers this process, though, we should obviously take into account the interests of other EEU members. It makes the process more complicated from the bureaucratic point of view, though, nevertheless, I hope that we will sign the agreement in several years," Elkin added.