In Kharkiv, Presidents Viktor Yanukovych and Dmitry Medvedev took part as chairmen in the Ukrainian-Russian talks between the two delegations.

"Interregional and border cooperation now requires separate projects that would be approved at the intergovernmental level", said the President of Ukraine at the beginning of the talks.

He believes that today there is a good basis for the development of partnership relations between Ukraine and Russia. "Peoples’ will comes first", said Viktor Yanukovych, referring to a sociological study that showed most citizens of our countries being for constructive development of Ukrainian-Russian relations.

There is a number of issues requiring resolution in our relations today, the President noted. Among them he particularly named customs procedures and citizens’ travel regulations. "I think we should simplify these regulations", he said.

Viktor Yanukovych has also drawn particular attention to environmental problems.

The President suggested that relevant bilateral commissions considered all these issues by 17 May so they could be referred to during President Medvedev’s official visit to Ukraine and concrete decisions could be approached. "I would like your visit to be constructive", said Viktor Yanukovych.

From his part Dmitry Medvedev noted that today’s event was long awaited. "Such form of communication is necessary", he said. According to the Russian President, conditions of business operation, infrastructure and customs procedures are among the issues requiring resolution between the two countries.

President Medvedev supported President Yanukovych’s idea to consider these issues during his May visit to Ukraine.

The Russian President also suggested continuing the cooperation between our countries in humanitarian and environmental sectors.

"There should be no pauses in the process and it should be the subject of central authorities’ constant attention”, he said.