Vladimir Putin: Russia's stance towards bread-grain deliveries to Ukraine can be flexible

Russia's stance towards bread-grain deliveries to Ukraine can be flexible and they can be done on terms acceptable for Kiev, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at his Friday meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich.

According to Vladimir Putin, "costs of bread-grain in the Ukrainian market is speculative and is twice as high as it is in the Russian one." The Russian president stressed that "on the whole Russia expects good grain crops though it has difficulties in European part. We are ready to deliver the amount of grain Ukraine needs," he said.

Vladimir Putin said he was sure that the price for the Russian grain "will be acceptable for Ukraine but will not be so speculative as in the Ukrainian market." According to the Russian president, the issue can be settled in a different way as well. In particular, "we can consider a tied credit." Vladimir Putin said that with due account taken of the fact that Ukraine is a large grain producer itself, Kiev could return the same amount of grain next year but with a certain interest." "Our stance towards the problem can be very flexible," Vladimir Putin underscored.