Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has defended his policy of forging closer ties with Russia but said he would not recognize Georgia's separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent.
Yanukovych, speaking at a news conference marking 100 days in office Friday, said Ukraine needed closer economic integration with Russia and announced plans to sign a new friendship treaty with Russia to further bolster relations.
Ukrainian-Russian ties worsened badly under Yanukovych's pro-Western predecessor, Viktor Yushchenko, who sought to bring Ukraine to NATO and the European Union. Yanukovych moved to repair relations with Moscow after his February's election.
Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent after its 2008 war with Georgia, but Yanukovych indicated Friday that he believed the decision violated international law.
"I have never recognized Abkhazia, South Ossetia or Kosovo as independent states. This is a violation of international laws and norms," he said.
While in the opposition, Yanukovych called on the Ukrainian government to recognize the two Georgian regions. Only a handful of countries have followed Moscow's lead.
Many Western countries have recognized Kosovo as independent, a move that has angered Russia, an ally of Serbia.
(MT, AP)