Ukraine president meets Putin

MOSCOW, JANUARY 25 (AGENCIES)Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko traveled to Russia on Monday for meetings with President Vladimir Putin.

The meeting was aimed to mend fences with Moscow following a bitter election campaign.
Yushchenko had promised to make Russia his first foreign visit as president, an acknowledgment of Russia's key role as Ukraine's top trading partner and investor.

The move also underlines Ukraine's need to smooth ties roiled by the Kremlin's overt support for his rival, former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
At a news conference following his talks with Putin, Yushchenko reiterated his intention to improve relations with Moscow.

"I think that mutual trust is the key issue in our relationship. (We) have to understand that the basis of our mutual relationship is not in rhetoric, but it is in a number of successful joint ventures," he said.

He also said that he discussed with Putin the circumstances surrounding his mysterious dioxin poisoning in September that left his face badly scarred and took him off the campaign trail for weeks.

Russia views Ukraine as a key part of its historic sphere of influence, a major transit route for its oil and gas exports and a buffer between the expanding European Union and NATO.
Moscow is nervous about Yushchenko's plans to quickly integrate the 48 million nation into Western structures.