Russia, Ukraine should resume comprehensive military cooperation - Putin

Russia could use Ukraine’s defence potential for the needs of its Armed Force, President Putin said at the session of the Russian-Ukrainian inter-state commission.

"We are ready to consider the possibility of using the capacities of the Ukrainian economy for the needs of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as the closeness between the two countries will continue to grow," the Russian leader said.

Trade cooperation between Ukraine, Russia requires urgent intervention - Yanukovych

Trade cooperation between Russia and Ukraine calls for urgent intervention, and this work should be coordinated with other CIS countries, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said.

"It [the situation in trade between Ukraine and Russia] calls for urgent intervention today. I think we should have to coordinate this work in the near future not only between our countries, Russia and Ukraine, but also with other CIS countries, so that the free trade area should start working in full," Yanukovych said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday.

Ukrainian enterprises have lately seen a decline in their trade volumes and are in a difficult economic situation now, he said.

"The agreements that have been drawn up and the measures that we will soon be taking will enable us to improve the situation in the near future," Yanukovych said, adding that radical decisions would have to be made in some sectors, in particular, by setting up joint ventures.

Putin expects to advance on sensetive bilateral issues during meeting with Yanukovych

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he expected to make progress on sensitive bilateral issues during interstate consultations with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, the Voice of Russia correspondent Ilya Kharlamov reports.

"This is our planned meeting related to intergovernmental consultations and I count a lot on our being able to make progress on resolving the most sensitive issues for us," Putin said during the meeting with Yanukovych.

"I hope that we shall be able to move forward in addressing the most sensitive issues," Putin said.

He said that Ukraine "is our full-fledged strategic partner beyond any doubt."

The Russian president recalled that over the past two years Russian-Ukrainian trade showed a decline - by 11 percent in 2012 and by 14.5 percent in 2013.

"Time is ripe for taking resolute action in order to get back to the previous level and to create conditions for onward movement," Putin said.

He recalled that Russian and Ukrainian heads of government and government ministers had done a very good job lately in some key areas - energy, machine-building, space, aircraft-building and ship-building.

"We have every opportunity to enhance our legal and contractual basis and to create every condition necessary to advance Russian-Ukrainian economic ties," Putin said.

Putin calls for better conditions for Ukrainians working in Russia

President Vladimir Putin has called for better living, working and legal conditions for nationals of Ukraine working in Russia, the Voice of Russia correspondent Ilya Kharlamov reports.

"According to official statistics, we have about 1.5 million people from Ukraine working in this country, but, according to various estimates, up to 5 million people. That is a large number of people, for whom, of course, favorable conditions should be provided to enable them to freely live and work here, move across the border, help their families who are at home waiting for their support," Putin said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Tuesday.

Putin also called for closer humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Ukraine.

"This is important for people, not just for those who have relatives - there are a lot of such families in Russia and Ukraine - but also for those who work in Russia today," he said.

Yanukovych stands for transborder, interregional cooperation with Russia

Ukraine and Russia should bolster cooperation in border areas and between their regions, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said, the Voice of Russia correspondent Ilya Kharlamov reports.

"We absolutely must develop these areas, which create conveniences for people," he told Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday.

Transborder and interregional cooperation projects must be our constant focal point, he added.

Yanukovych hopes gas issues with Russia to be resolved on principle of mutual benefit

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said he hoped the issue of gas supplies from Russia would be resolved on the principle of mutual benefit, the Voice of Russia correspondent Ilya Kharlamov reports.

"I think that we will not obstruct their [Gazprom (MOEX: GAZP) and Naftogaz Ukrainy] agreements and we will resolve these issues on the principle of mutual benefit," Yanukovych said during a conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Voice of Russia, Interfax