Russian Foreign Minister Visits Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) with his Ukrainian counterpart, Borys Tarasyuk (epa) November 8, 2006 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Borys Tarasyuk held talks in Kyiv today but failed to report progress on sensitive issues in bilateral relations, such as the continuing presence of the Russian Black Sea fleet on Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.

Talking about the use of the Russian language in Ukraine, Lavrov said: "We want, on a mutual basis, to ensure for Ukrainians in Russia and for Russians in Ukraine equal rights so that their wishes to speak, think, and work in their native language will be satisfied as much as possible."

Lavrov said the presidents of the two countries would meet soon in Ukraine, but that a date is yet to be set.

(UNIAN, Interfax-Ukraine, ITAR-TASS)