Medvedev on two-day visit to Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine, May 17 (UPI) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Kiev Monday to begin a two-day visit with his Ukrainian counterpart and sign several bilateral agreements.

Medvedev said Sunday he hoped to sign agreements concerning cooperation and humanitarian exchanges in "inter-regional and international problems," Russian information agency RIA Novosti reported.

Moscow and Kiev recently made important steps to restore "full-fledged, kindhearted, sincere and friendly relations traditional for our countries, Medvedev said.

It is the second visit Medvedev has made to the country since Viktor Yanukovych was elected Ukrainian president in February. Yanukovych, who succeeded Viktor Yushchenko, pledged during the presidential campaign to improve relations with Russia.