In his address to the gathering, Mr Putin said that Russian-Ukrainian relations were gaining stability and becoming predictable, and that bilateral strategic partnership was a hopeful token not only for the two nations but for the entire Commonwealth of Independent States, united Europe and the world.
Mr Putin and Mr Trajkovski had a short talk before the reception. They did not need an interpreter with their fluent English.
See also
Visit to Ukraine, Celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of Ukraine's Independence
August 23 − 24, 2001