President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said on Thursday that Russia welcomed Kiev's desire to improve trade ties with Moscow, signaling satisfaction with a Ukrainian government decision to suspend preparations for a landmark trade pact with the European Union.

"We welcome the desire to improve and develop trade and economic cooperation,'' Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters. He called Ukraine a "close partner'' and said Russia would respect any decision it made about the EU deal. [Read More]

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Source: VOA News: Economy and Finance