Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia and Ukraine should make every effort to boost bilateral trade.
On Thursday, in the lead-up to a meeting of the Russian-Ukrainian interstate commission, Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych held a face to face discussion.
Yanukovych said that trade between Russia and Ukraine last year came to over $55 billion. However, this figure is not very good so far this year and this has largely been the result of weather conditions such as the "severe conditions this winter."
"Out of Russia's total trade, Ukraine accounts for around 6.2%. This is a significant and respectable figure. Ukraine, as I see, ranks fifth among our leading trade and economic partners and we'll do our best to ensure that that slight breakdown in the first quarter of this year, which you have mentioned, is liquidated as quickly as possible," Putin said.
Putin proposed making this issue one of the points on the day's agenda during Thursday's negotiations.
"I am absolutely sure that we will secure results this year that would be no worse than last year's. And, perhaps, we'll top that result," Putin said.
He added that Russia and Ukraine plan to implement several major projects and expressed confidence in their realization.
Putin said that a group of representatives from the Russian leadership had joined him in Yalta.
"We'll do as much work as you think is necessary," Putin said.
