Ukraine leader Yanukovych visits Putin amid pro-EU rallies
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych seeks cheaper gas and multi-billion-dollar loan as reward for EU pact U-turn
Ukraine’s embattled President Viktor Yanukovych sought on Tuesday a multi-billion-dollar lifeline from Russia’s Vladimir Putin that could relieve a brewing economic crisis but also stoke huge pro-EU protests roiling Kiev streets.
The ex-Soviet nation of 46 million has been at the heart of a furious diplomatic tug of war since Yanukovych’s shock decision last month to ditch a landmark EU partnership agreement and seek closer ties with its traditional master Russia.
Putin told Yanukovych in opening remarks at the Kremlin that he viewed Ukraine as one of Russia’s “strategic partners”.
A Russian loan can help Yanukovych keep power
“I very much hope that we will be able to make progress on resolving our most sensitive issues,” said Putin.
Yanukovych replied that the two sides “should continue developing our strategic partnership” and said he especially hoped to resolve a festering feud about the price Russia charges for natural gas on which the Ukrainian economy depends.
“If we fail to sign something today, then we should be able (to sign it) in the near future and continue working further,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Tuesday’s high-stakes talks came two days after frustrated EU officials suspended months of negotiations they had hoped would pull Ukraine out of Russia’s orbit for the first time.