Putin with President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych in meeting at the Kremlin. (Picture courtesy: the Presidential Press and Information Office).
On December 17, 2013 President Vladimir Putin met with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to discuss economic and regional politics at the Kremlin in Moscow.
“Mr Yanukovych,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Moscow.
This is a regular meeting scheduled to take place prior to the interstate consultations, and I very much hope that we can move forward in addressing the most important issues.
There can be no doubt that Ukraine is our strategic partner and ally in the fullest sense of the word. Unfortunately, as we noted during our recent meeting in Sochi, we have seen a decrease in trade over the past two years: 11 percent in 2012 and a further 14.5 percent this year. Therefore, it is time to take vigorous action so that we not only return to the level of previous years, but also create the conditions for moving forward.
Lately, our colleagues in the Government – the prime ministers and other members of our countries’ cabinets – have been working very successfully in several vitally important sectors, including energy, machine engineering, space, aviation and shipbuilding. I know that you have been briefed on the results of their work. Today we will have an excellent chance to strengthen our legal base in in these areas, and to create all the conditions necessary for expanding trade and economic relations between Russia and Ukraine.
I am very pleased to see you. Welcome!”, said President Vladimir Putin to Ukrainian President Yanukovych (source: Kremlin Official Press Release – Office of the President of Russia http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/6418).
See related article: Putin, Yanukovych promise close economic ties amid protests http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/17/world/europe/ukraine-protests/
See article: Putin: Russia, Ukraine should resume full scale military cooperation http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/putin-russia-ukraine-should-resume-full-scale-military-military-technological-cooperation-333843.html