Putin: There is chance to expand cooperation with Ukraine

Sochi – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has proposed to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss changes in the trade regime between the two countries in connection with Russia’s joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

At a meeting with Putin on Saturday Yanukovych said that high-tech goods is a highly sensitive issue for Ukraine. The Ukrainian president expressed a desire to discuss the groups of high-tech goods, for which the trade regime will be changed as a result of Russia’s joining the WTO.

“Of course, we’d like to have the process more effective: we should understand for what groups of goods the trade regime will be changed,” Yanukovych said.

Opening the meeting Putin said that Russia is the key market of selling Ukrainian goods. He also reminded that the two countries tightly cooperate in the high-tech area, including nuclear energy, space, aircraft and engine building.

“We’ve been cooperating for many years, and new instruments give us a chance to expand cooperation and find today a possibility to discuss the issue informally,” Putin said.