MOSCOW, Jan 24 (AFP) - Newly-elected Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko told President Vladimir Putin here Monday that he regarded Russia as "an eternal strategic parter" for Kiev despite Moscow's support for his rival in a bruising presidential election campaign.
Yushchenko only took office on Sunday, and on Monday he was already in Moscow to meet with Putin at the Kremlin.
"This is a sign of great respect for our relations. Russia is an eternal strategic partner" for Ukraine, Yushchenko said.
Putin assured Yushchenko that Russia would not try to undermine his authority and had only supported his pro-Russian opponent in the hotly-contested elections because the departing Ukrainian leadership asked for it.
"You of course know well that Russia has never worked in an underhanded way in the post-Soviet space, including with the opposition," Putin told Yushchenko as the two leaders began talks at the Kremlin.
"We do not work around an acting government. This applies fully to Ukraine. Recently we did only that which was asked of us by the Ukrainian government in power. You are aware of this, there is no secret about this. We only hope that we can also have the same friendly relationship with you."
The Russian leader added: "Our relations will develop. We have said several times that we will work with any leader elected by the Ukrainian people, and I repeat this today."
Yushchenko said the six-month election fight had been "difficult" for him and stated: "We wanted the Ukrainian people to choose its president to build an independent Ukraine.
01/24/2005 14:34 GMT - AFP