Russian agencies have been asked to draw up possible projects to build a bridge across the Kerch Strait.
"[Ukrainian President] Viktor Fedorovych [Yanukovych] and I have just seen one of the possible bridge construction projects. This is a very important, vital project. We need to think which project could be put into practice, as well as to look at its cost. All of the appropriate instructions have already been given to our agencies," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said at the first Russian-Ukrainian interregional economic forum on Monday.
"Doubtlessly, this topic deserves the presidents’ attention because it unites the two countries, creates better conditions for crossing the border," as well as helps boost trade between Russia and Ukraine, Medvedev said.
Yanukovych said that it would be desirable to complete the construction of a Kerch-Caucasus bridge before the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, which Poland and Ukraine will co-host.
"As far as the construction of a Kerch-Caucasus bridge is concerned, it would be desirable to finish it by 2012. We still have plenty of time," Yanukovych said.
However, if the bridge is not ready in 2012, its construction should be completed before the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, the Ukrainian president said.
"It would be good if we managed to [build the bridge] by the football championship. However, it is clear that it is unrealistic. It would be good if we managed to do it by the Olympic Games in Sochi," Medvedev said at a joint news conference with Yanukovych later.
The construction of such a bridge is a technologically difficult project, the Russian president said.
"We have agreed to form a working group that will say what steps should be taken and will conduct a feasibility study," Medvedev said.
This project will be developed with financial support that is to be provided by several selected banks, the president said.
"The drafting of the project will take at least a year," he said.
