Putin to Visit Ukraine January 27

President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation is to fly over on a three-day working visit to Kiev January 27.

According to deputy presidential-administration chief Sergei Prikhodko, the Russian leader will take part in inaugurating the Year of Russia in Ukraine; moreover, he will attend a no-neckties CIS summit.

The Year of Russia will be inaugurated at the Ukraina national palace in an impressive setting in the evening of January 27; that ceremony will feature a concert; moreover, Ukrainian culture figures will be receiving their awards. After that, President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine will organize a formal reception.

Putin's working visit is scheduled to begin January 28. In Prikhodko's words, both Putin and Kuchma will hold multi-format talks Tuesday, also signing quite a few bilateral documents.

The Russian head of state will visit Kiev State University January 28, meeting students, as well as Ukrainian culture figures, there.

On January 29, Putin will take part in an informal conference of CIS leaders. Incidentally, the Ukrainian side suggested holding this no-neckties summit.

According to RIA-NOVOSTI's sources, the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan won't attend the forthcoming summit for certain reasons. By all looks, these countries will be represented by their respective Prime Ministers or other high-ranking officials.

Putin will apparently negotiate with the Presidents of Moldavia, Tajikistan and Georgia during the Kiev summit.

The possibility of holding a Caucasian Four conference in Kiev is also being studied, Prikhodko noted in conclusion.