Yanukovych: Ukraine willing to develop strategic relations with US

Ukraine is willing to develop its strategic relations with the United States and continue cooperation in all key areas outlined in the U.S. - Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership, Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych has said.

"Ukraine intends to develop further its strategic relations with the United States, and our cooperation on principal issues based on the Charter on Strategic Partnership is the key to an efficient working partnership," Yanukovych said during a meeting with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman in Kyiv on Wednesday, the presidential press service reported. According to him, Kyiv appreciates U.S. assistance in Ukraine's development in all areas, in particular in the democratization of the country. The president also expressed the hope that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet soon. "This contact between the newly appointed heads of foreign affairs agencies is very important and in our opinion it will provide a new bilateral agenda," Yanukovych said. He added that Ukraine's chairmanship of the OSCE this year might also be included on the agenda of the bilateral meeting.