Russia, Ukraine hold defense talks

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Russian and Ukrainian defense officials recently held discussions on the potential for future cooperation on defense projects.

Ukrainian acting First Deputy Foreign Minister Valeriy Ivashchenko led a delegation to the recent Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Ivashchenko met with Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to discuss concerns over bilateral cooperation between the countries, the Ukrainian government reported.

Officials say the delegations discussed the future of a joint Russian/Ukrainian AN-70 military-transport aircraft development project. Ivashchenko and Serdyukov also addressed the "possibility of making repairs of ships and vessels of the Russian Black Sea Fleets at Ukrainian shipbuilding enterprises," the release said.

Issues concerning the movement of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukrainian territory were also discussed.