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Putin: Russia, Ukraine are strategic partners

Russia's president notes that neighboring countries are tied with traditions of friendship, close co-operation

MOSCOW, December 17. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia and Ukraine are strategic partners, which are tied with the traditions of friendship and close co-operation in different spheres, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a joint statement with visiting Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich in the Russian capital on Tuesday.

“It is important that both sides will show the intention to broaden different contacts. First of all, in the economic sphere, as all objective prerequisites exist for this,” the Russian leader noted. “The enterprises of our countries are actually making the common economic complex. Russian and Ukrainian companies are maintaining close industrial co-operation and are working actively on the markets of each other,” Putin said.

The president noted that Russia is keeping the leading position confidently in the Ukrainian trade turnover, having a 30 percent share in the country’s trade. “Meanwhile, Ukraine is ranked sixth in Russia’s trade turnover. The country cedes only to Belarus (in the Russian trade turnover - Itar-Tass eds) among the CIS states,” Putin added.

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