Ukrainian President: Economy Must Form The Basis Of Ukrainian-russian Relations

Russia has been and remains Ukraine's trade partner, President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma has said this Friday at a joint press-conference with Vladimir Putin. Kuchma believes that "it is the economy that must form the basis of the relations between Ukraine and Russia." He also thinks that in the current situation politicians need to perform the role of a mechanism for the implementation of large-scale projects signed between Ukraine and Russia. At the same time, Kuchma noted that all the efforts of the Presidents of both countries are aimed at creating a favourable environment for economic cooperation. The Ukrainian President also believes that the current business forum in Kharkov will give a new impetus to bilateral cooperation in the energy sphere, in industry, transport, agriculture, and also aircraft and rocket-building. Kuchma stressed that the results of the forum will have beneficial effects on the development of relations between Ukraine and Russia.