You're reading: Putin visit to Kyiv on April 12 to highlight trade, energy

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is planning a working visit to Ukraine for April 12, the Russian government said.


Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and his Ukrainian counterpart, Mykola Azarov, in Kyiv last year. Putin will be in Kyiv again on April 12 to discuss energy and trade issues. Kremlin leaders are pushing Ukraine to join a Russian-led Customs Union and offer natural gas price discounts worth $8 billion a year as an incentive. However, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is cautiuosly moving the other direction. Ukraine is already a member of the World Trade Organization, but Russia is not. Ukraine is also seeking a free-trade agreement with the European Union. (AFP)

Putin and Ukraine’s leadership will hold talks “on key issues of bilateral cooperation, including cooperation in such important sectors as energy, trade and economic relations, transportation, and the implementation of joint programs in the aviation industry,” the government said in a report.

Putin and Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, as co-chairmen of the economic committee of the Russian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission, will discuss work done in implementing committee decisions and preparations for the committee’s next meeting.

The Russian premier and Ukrainian leaders will also discuss prospects for interaction between the two countries in space exploration in connection with the 50th anniversary on April 12 of the world’s first manned space flight, Soviet cosmonaut Yury Gagarin’s mission, Interfax reported.