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Today's paper. Last Updated: 06/04/2012

Kuchma, Yeltsin Talks To Focus on Economics

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma flew into Moscow on a working visit Tuesday to meet with President Boris Yeltsin. The two presidents were expected to clear up outstanding issues delaying a new trade and economic agreement that Ukraine hopes to see signed soon, Itar-Tass said.


Quoting a highly placed member of Kuchma's administration, Itar-Tass said Kuchma and Yeltsin would also discuss restructuring Ukrainian debt to Russia, establishing a free-trade zone between the two states and the future of the Black Sea Fleet.


Kuchma, 55, was elected president last July on a campaign for closer ties with Russia, including greater economic cooperation within the CIS. His more cooperative stance, in sharp contrast to that of his predecessor Leonid Kravchuk, has seemed to bring a new warmth to Russian-Ukrainian relations.


Yeltsin's meeting with Kuchma comes amid a flurry of preparations for the next Commonwealth of Independent States summit, set for Feb. 10 in Kazakhstan's capital Almaty.


Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Yeltsin in Moscow on Friday to sign several accords. Kazakhstan and Belarus have now both signed agreements with Russia on a customs union, free trade and convertible currencies, starting a fast-track league within the CIS. Nazarbayev said Monday that Ukraine would also likely join.




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