MOSCOW, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he hopes Russia and Ukraine will achieve "real" strategic cooperation soon, the Kremlin press office reported.
"Our people have always been and remain the closest neighbors, bound by strong bonds of friendship and trust. I am positive mutual understanding and compromise will help us tackle unresolved problems and achieve a real strategic partnership in our relations," Putin said in a letter to Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko to congratulate him on his nation's Independence Day, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.
Relations between the two neighbors have been strained due to gas supply issues. Russia briefly turned off natural gas supplies to Kiev in January after Ukraine refused to pay a market price for it.
This week Ukraine Fuel and Energy Minister Yuri Boiko met with head of Gazprom Alexei Miller to discuss gas supply issues and a possible transference of management of Ukraine's gas transportation system to Russia.
Relations are expected to get better because the new Ukrainian prime minister, Viktor Yanokovych, is seen as an ally of Moscow. Russia said this week that it would hold gas prices for Ukraine steady for the rest of the year.
