Putin, Yushchenko vow to further Russia-Ukraine ties

Ukrainian leader Viktor Yushchenko on Saturday met here with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on his first visit to Ukraine since Yushchenko's taking office, and the two exchanged views on a wide range of topics of common concern.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction over their talks at a joint press conference held afterwards.

Yushchenko told reporters that they plan to establish a "Putin-Yushchenco Committee" to replace an inter-governmental cooperation committee, in a bid to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in defense, foreign affairs, economy and culture.

The Ukrainian leader also expressed confidence that they have taken an important step toward the building of the most constructive bilateral ties.

Bilateral economic relations are high on the agenda of the two-hour talks, Yushchenko said, adding that Ukraine's huge trade deficit with Russia can only be solved through the creation of a free-trade zone between the two countries.

Also included in Saturday's discussions were border demarcation in the strategic Kerch Strait that separates the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea, the presence of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine, and the two countries' accession into the World Trade Organization, said Yushchenko.

Putin told reporters that he had reached an agreement with Yushchenko to put forward a 2005 work schedule which will determine the implementation of major cooperation projects between the two countries.

He stressed that the Kremlin-promoted common economic space, which would integrate the economies of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, will help solve the trade imbalance between Russia and Ukraine

Putin added that he will push the talks between experts of the two countries to find a solution for the Kerch Strait issue.

It is the two leaders' second face-to-face meeting. Yushchenko traveled to the Kremlin a day after his inauguration -- fulfilling a campaign promise to preserve a good relationship with Russia.

Putin, in his previous trip to Ukraine last November, campaigned openly for Yushchenko's opponent in the country's tumultuous presidential elections.

Since the Western-leaning Yushchenko's coming into power in Ukraine, Kiev and Moscow have faced a delicate task -- the two historically linked nations must figure out how to head their separate political ways without damaging economic interdependence.

Putin arrived midday from Paris at Kiev's Borispil airport. During his working visit here, the Russian leader also met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko and Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytyvn.