Nikolay Azarov and Vladimir Putin

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, and Prime minister of Ukraine Nikolay Azarov during meeting in Kiev, on Wednesday, October 27, 2010. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is visiting the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday to take part in the latest meeting of the economic cooperation committee under the two countries' intergovernmental commission. Minister's visit to Kiev began with a meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, followed by a short one with Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov. After these interpersonal meetings, the committee session will begin, and the two prime ministers are expected to hold a press conference afterwards. Normalization of the Ukrainian-Russian relations has a positive effect on economic cooperation between the two countries. The prime minister of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin told about this today in Kyiv at a meeting with President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. "As a result of the policy that has been carried on by you in the Russian direction, out political component is transformed into economic results," - said the Russian prime minister. Vladimir Putin noted the substantial growth of trade between the two countries. "We almost are going to pre-crisis level," - he said. The head of the Russian government also stressed that his visit to Ukraine was preceded by considerable preparatory action, which progressed in many ways thanks “to the political position of the Ukrainian leaders". However, according to him, the preparatory action was not easy, because it was necessary to adjust the positions of the parties to seek a compromise. Photo by Vladimir Gontar / UNIAN