Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma welcomed President Putin when he arrived in Zaporozhye. From the airport the two leaders went to the Dnieper power plant to take part in the launch ceremony of the fourth re-engineered generating unit.
Mr Putin and Mr Kuchma took a tour of the plant and laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Hero who died defending the Dnieper plant during the Great Patriotic War. The Presidents talked with the management and long-time workers of the plant.
The Presidents also had a brief meeting.
Speaking at the gala celebration dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Dnieper plant, President Putin particularly mentioned Russian-Ukrainian energy cooperation. Among other things, he pointed to future prospects for the joint export of electric power to third countries, and to a considerable increase in oil supplies to Ukraine.
At the end of the meeting, President Putin replied to questions from journalists about the possible creation of an international consortium to develop Ukraine’s gas transport system involving West European partners, and the future of bilateral economic cooperation.