Putin, Yushchenko Interested in Confiding Relationship

MOSCOW, Russia -- Russian president Vladimir Putin said he counts on confiding relationship with his new Ukrainian counterpart, Viktor Yushchenko. Speaking at a meeting in Moscow, Putin said that “Russia has never worked behind the scenes at the territory of former Soviet Union, including the work with opposition. This fully concerns Ukraine, too.”

“We are glad that the situation in Ukraine is stabilizing,” he said and reminded that Russia had told earlier it would work with any leader Ukraine would vote for.

Yushchenko and Putin

Yushchenko noted he made his first visit abroad as president to Russia “as a respect to our relationship.” “The doors to the future are opening not through rhetoric but through concrete actions that can be shown to the people.”

Speaking before the talks with Putin, Ukrainian president expressed hope that the relationship between the two countries could be better.

The two presidents also spoke on future cooperation in the gas consortium. Yushchenko has told Putin the staff of the new government. He has appointed his aide Yulia Timoshenko the acting prime minister. The Ukrainian parliament will vote on this candidacy in the beginning of February. Putin did not express his view on the new government and said it is in competence of the Ukrainian people.