Russia invited Ukrainian president-elect Viktor Yanukovych on Monday to visit Moscow, aiming to consolidate improved relations with Kiev after years of acrimony under the outgoing president.
President Dmitry Medvedev made the invitation in a letter to Yanukovych released by the Kremlin press service.
Ukraine's electoral commission confirmed on Sunday Yanukovych's win over his rival, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, in a runoff on Feb. 7, paving the way for his inauguration. Tymoshenko says she intends to challenge the result in court.
If Yanukovych accepts the invitation, it could be his first foreign trip as president, reinforcing expectations that he will steer the former Soviet republic back towards Moscow's orbit.
In a pointed reference to outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko, Medvedev's letter said the election showed that Ukrainians "desired to end the historically doomed attempts to sow discord between the people of our countries."
Both Yanukovych and Tymoshenko said they wanted better relations with Moscow after five years of estrangement under Yushchenko, who was swept to power in 2004 on a wave of anti-Russian sentiment and wanted Ukraine to join the European Union and NATO.
Western leaders have also congratulated Yanukovych on his win and praised the poll for meeting democratic standards.
During campaigning, Yanukovych stressed the "historical partnership" of Ukraine and Russia that goes beyond strategic relations. But he has also promised to tackle the country's economic problems and move it closer to the EU.