Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is in Yalta, attending the fifth session of the Russian-Ukrainian Interstate Commission, has proposed to focus on bilateral cooperation, including in the military-technological sphere.
As for defense cooperation, “we should talk over our plans in the field in great detail”, Putin said. “Not only the state of our Armed Forces, but also the state of high-tech economic branches such as aviation, space and ship-building depend on that”.
Russia has been a traditional export market for military products of many Ukrainian enterprises, while some Russian industries rely on their Ukrainian partners, Putin remarked.
“To be sure, we will discuss our agreements on the deployment of the Russian fleet in Crimea,” he said.
Before the session, Putin suggested other topics for discussion, including trade cooperation, cultural ties and coordinated international efforts.
“In 2013, Ukraine will be presiding over the OSCE. We would like to hear your priorities, discuss our possible cooperation,” the Russian leader said.
