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Russian, Ukrainian Prime Ministers discuss cooperation between two countries

The meeting took place behind closed doors after a session of Council of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States

© ITAR-TASS/Ekaterina Shtukina

STRELNA, November 20. /ITAR-TASS/. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev met with his Ukrainian colleague Nikolai Azarov on Wednesday, November 20, to discuss relations between the two countries.

The meeting took place behind closed doors after a session of Council of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Strelna outside St. Petersburg.

The prime ministers addressed a number of pressing issues, including Ukraine’s plans to become an associated member of the European Union, thus losing the chance to join the Customs Union created by Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Another issue was Russian gas supplies to Ukraine and the need for timely payments for them.

Medvedev also met with the prime ministers of Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova.

He noted that it was the first time Moldova Prime Minister Iurie Leanca was attending a meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of Government and wished him success.

Having observed that it was “not a full-fledged meeting [with Leanca] but a one of the sidelines,” Medvedev all the same suggested that they discuss pressing bilateral issues such as trade, investment and other problems in relations between their countries.

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