The Presidents discussed the formation of the Common Economic Space of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine, preparations for a CIS summit in Yalta, and bilateral trade and economic relations.
Mr Putin said that there was every reason to expect the signing of a document on the establishment of the Common Economic Space at the Yalta summit of September 18–19, 2003. He stressed that the drafted document would be acceptable to all the four parties.
Mr Putin also said that Russia was ready to sell Ukraine more grain than the preliminary agreement for 2003 envisaged, as the harvest would certainly exceed the national demand. As for commercial issues, they would demand additional coordination at the expert level, the President said.
See also
Opening Remarks at a Meeting with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma
September 2, 2003