The joint celebration of the 1,025th anniversary of the Christianization of the Kievan Rus is the celebration of the unity of Ukrainian and Russian peoples, President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych has said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I am grateful, Vladimir Vladimirovich, to you personally, because you with the team has today arrived in Ukraine to celebrate this wonderful holiday of the unity of our peoples jointly with us," the head of state said at the beginning of a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart on Saturday.

The president stressed the importance of this event for both countries and said that Ukraine in the spirit of traditional hospitality would make every effort for the celebration to be held at a decent level.

Yanukovych said that today festive events are being carried out in many Ukrainian cities.

He also specifically emphasized the importance of participation of the presidents of other countries in these events.

"The participation of our fellow presidents, our friendly Orthodox states is also a very significant event," said Yanukovych.

Putin, in turn, thanked the president of Ukraine for the possibility of meeting at the event.

"This common holiday reminds us of the spirit of unity, common roots, that much was done in the previous century. We are full of determination, given everything our ancestors did, to move on," said Putin.

"I am pleased to note that we have personal contacts and good contacts at the level of governments. We have many joint issues to be resolved, and there will be another meeting tomorrow. Thanks to you it will be a common holiday, and we will be able to discuss the important issues of cooperation in the field of security," said Putin.