Russian President Vladimir Putin telephoned Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich on Monday to congratulate him on the victory in the November 21 presidential run-off.

It was stressed during the conversation that "the struggle was fierce but open and fair, and the victory was convincing," presidential press secretary Alexei Gromov said.

Yanukovich thanked Putin and expressed confidence about the positive and multi-faceted development of ties between Ukraine and Russia.

Gromov said that Putin also had had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma. They had reached an agreement to meet in the near future.

Source: Itar-Tass