President Putin to meet Ukrainian counterpart

President Vladimir Putin is beginning his one-day visit to Ukraine. In Yalta the Russian head of state will take part in the 5th session of the Russian-Ukrainian Interstate Commission and will hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych, Voice of Russia reports.

On the agenda of the Russian-Ukrainian talks are the discussion of the agreements reached earlier that are currently being implemented and bilateral cooperation in various fields, including nuclear power production and the exploration of outer space. It is planned that paramount attention will be paid to the broadening of trade and economic contacts between Russia and Ukraine. Last year's trade turnover between the two countries topped 50 billion dollars. Ukraine ranks fourth among Russia’s main trading partners after China, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The Kremlin does not rule out that Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yanukovych will also discuss the gas issue. However, there are no plans to sign any documents in this field, the Russian President’s aide Yuri Ushakov said.