Meeting with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, President Vladimir Putin noted the positive developments taking place in Russian-Ukrainian relations.
Mr Kuchma has actively contributed towards strengthening the economic and political ties between the two countries, Mr Putin said. Now the moment has come when the Ukrainian people will decide whether to continue this positive course of development.
The future of relations between the two countries will depend on the new foreign policy line Ukraine chooses.
The President said he is certain that the policy pursued by the Ukrainian leadership is completely in the interests of both countries and aims not simply at ensuring good neighbourly relations but also at joining forces in order to raise living standards for the peoples of both Russia and Ukraine.