Russian, Ukrainian prime ministers to meet in Moscow

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Azarov in Moscow on March 25, Putin’s press secretary said on Tuesday. The decision was made during a telephone conversation between Putin and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

“During the conversation the two sides have touched upon current issues of bilateral cooperation and also agreed to hold a bilateral working meeting on the level of prime ministers in Moscow on March 25,” Dmitry Peskov said.

Azarov was appointed prime minister after Yanukovych’s chief rival, then Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, was dismissed after a vote of non-confidence on March 11.

Yanukovych has repeatedly claimed he wants to boost ties with Russia, which deteriorated during his predecessor Viktor Yushchenko’s presidency over his Western-leaning policies.