Official website of the President of Russia

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The message said, in part:

“The present time is characterised by intense and painstaking efforts to develop the state, build up authority in the international market, and shift the national economy to market patterns. Ukraine has launched state, law and social reforms, and started developing democratic institutions. The last years saw major success in key economic fields after Ukraine embarked on the reform road.

“No doubt, those achievements are largely due to the progress of Russian-Ukrainian cooperation. Our countries have cemented their neighbourly relations in the channels of strategic partnership and fruitful interaction.

“The scope and nature of Russian-Ukrainian cooperation, deep-going cultural and historical traditions shared by the two countries, and links between the two peoples provide a firm basis for our alliance to rise to a thoroughly new level.

“I am convinced that, by pooling efforts and resources, Russia and Ukraine will win a place of honour in the dynamically changing world, and will firmly respond to current global challenges.”