Putin calls for closer economic cooperation with Ukraine | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire: “Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called on Friday for an improvement in Russian-Ukrainian economic relations.
‘We know that in engineering, aviation, energy and agricultural spheres we strongly depend on each other. We have a lot to do to make up lost ground,’ Putin said during a meeting with new Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Moscow.
Earlier on Friday, Yanukovych discussed bilateral relations with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Putin said Russian-Ukrainian trade turnover had decreased by almost 40% in 2009.
He said the two neighboring states could develop joint projects, including in the energy sphere, in third countries.
The prime minister also expressed hope that a new Ukrainian parliament coalition would be created in the near future, which would allow Yanukovych, who has pledged to seek for closer ties with Moscow, to push through his policies.”