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Russia will work hard to increase Russian-Ukrainian trade – Putin

The Russian president had met his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich shortly before the inter-state commission gathered for its meeting

YALTA, July 12 (Itar-Tass) — Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other members of the Russian-Ukrainian inter-state commission held a minute of silence in memory of the flood victims in Russia’s Krasnodar territory at a meeting held on Thursday.

President Putin said Russia would work hard to increase Russian-Ukrainian trade turnover.

The Russian president had met his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich shortly before the inter-state commission gathered for its meeting.

The Ukrainian president said that the Russian-Ukrainian trade had exceeded 55 billion dollars last year. However, 2012 hasn’t been very good for trade so far largely because of harsh winter.

In turn, President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine was Russia’s fifth biggest trade and economic partner, whose share amounts almost to 6.2 percent in the overall Russian trade with foreign countries.

“This is not a small figure. It’s quite big. We will do everything to liquidate the minor slowdown that occurred in the first quarter of this year and which you’ve mentioned as soon as possible,” Putin said.

The Russian head of state said he was sure that 2012 would be as good and successful or even more successful than the previous year.

He recalled that Russia and Ukraine were planning to launch a number of major projects, which, he hoped, would be implemented.

President Putin is being accompanied by a representative team of Russian leaders.

“We will work as much as you deem necessary,” Putin stressed.