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During the talks, Mr Putin and Mr Kuchma discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation in the political, trade and economic, military-technical, energy and cultural spheres. They paid special attention to the creation of the common economic space, establishment of the international consortium on the management and development of the Ukrainian gas transport system and prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation in the Black Sea-Azov region.

After the talks, the delegations signed several joint inter-governmental agreements. The Economic Ministers of the two countries signed an agreement on the regulation of supplies of zinc-plated rolled steel to Russia. The agreement stipulates the introduction of quotas on steel imports from February 1, 2004 until November 30, 2005. One hundred and ten thousand tonnes of rolled steel per year and no more than 10,000 tonnes per month can be imported to Russia. The two leaders also signed the inter-governmental protocol “On Supplies of Production Cooperation Manufacture in 2004”, and an agreement between Russian and Ukrainian companies on cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.

After the Russian-Ukrainian summit, Mr Putin and Mr Kuchma met with journalists.

Mr Putin praised the results of the talks and noted progress in the negotiations on the establishment of a gas transport consortium. Western companies are ready to take part in the project, so a Russian-German-Ukrainian meeting will take place soon, Mr Putin told the press.