Russia and Ukraine should restore strong relations, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Kharkov, in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday.
"Today's meeting is unofficial, but very important. We have to take several steps towards strengthening relations and turn ordinary relations into a partnership, returning them the quality of strategic relations between two very close countries," Medvedev said at the beginning of the negotiations with his counterpart.
Both presidents agreed relations between Russia and Ukraine during the rule of former president Viktor Yushchenko were chilly. The Russian leader added that the paramount task for the two countries now is to "fill all the gaps, which have appeared in recent years in relations on all levels."
"Our economies are very integrated into each other, we have to use this opportunity to achieve economic effect, and in the future we will develop economic ties, cooperation, humanitarian and friendly ties, desired both by the people of Ukraine and Russia," Yanukovych said.
The presidents will discuss natural gas issues, the conditions for the Russian Navy base in the Crimea and border cooperation, the Kremlin reported earlier.
A day before Medevedev's visit to Kharkov, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov came to Moscow to define the details of future gas agreements. Azarov said Russia and Ukraine have managed to come to a "common position" over the gas issue; however, he said some details still have to be discussed.
Russian business daily Vedomosti earlier said that Russia agreed on lower gas prices for Ukraine following a proposal from Yanukovych, who was inaugurated in February.
Ukraine reportedly requested Russia to lower the gas price to $250 or at least $260 per 1,000 cu m. The ex-Soviet republic currently purchases Russian natural gas at the average annual price of $337 per 1,000 cu m. The gas price equaled $305 per 1,000 cu m in the first quarter.
In return for cheaper gas, Ukraine could offer Russia a stake in its gas transportation system, which currently carries about 80% of Russian natural gas exports to Europe, and a discount for Russian gas transit to European consumers.
Yanukovych thanked Medvedev for his readiness to develop relations with Ukraine even "during the country's difficult economic situation."
KHARKOV, April 21 (RIA Novosti)
