Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is to meet with Russian Premier Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, March 20, the Embassy of Ukraine in Moscow has told Interfax-Ukraine.
According to the embassy, the meeting will be held in the estate of Novo-Ogaryovo as part of Yanukovych’s working visit to Russia on March 19-20.
In turn, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed this information.
"We are expecting this meeting," he said.
On March 19, the Ukrainian head of state will attend a meeting of the Interstate Council of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC).
Yanukovych is also planning to meet with the leaders of the EurAsEC member states to discuss the most important issues of cooperation.
The embassy also said that Yanukovych would visit Russia at the official invitation of outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
"This visit is important, as Ukraine’s national interests should be effectively promoted for further partnership with the Eurasian Economic Community and its future successor, the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as for bilateral relations with the member states of the community, first of all, in the economic sphere," the embassy said.
In addition, this visit is aimed at letting EurAsEC member states hear Ukraine’s opinion on the importance of the development of mutually beneficial partnership with the community, as well as stimulating further improvement of trade and economic cooperation of Ukraine with the EurAsEC member states – in line with the universally recognized norms and standards of the World Trade Organization – without discriminating trade regimes, shut-outs and restrictions.
The president’s visit is also aimed at the promotion of the interests of Ukrainian exporters in strengthening their positions on the markets of the EurAsEC member states via the expansion of the market for Ukrainian products and the further development of energy cooperation with the members of the Customs Union, the embassy said.
