MOSCOW, October 9 (RIA Novosti) - Trade between Russia and Ukraine may reach around $30 billion by the end of the year, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov said on Tuesday.

"This year, trade may come close to $30 billion, which shows that Russia remains the main trade and economic partner for Ukraine," Zubkov said during negotiations with Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who is in Moscow to discuss, among other things, his country's gas debt to Russian gas giant Gazprom.

Zubkov said bilateral trade grew 25% in the first half of 2007. "On the whole, we are satisfied with the state and development of trade and economic relations," he said.

In 2006, imports from Ukraine to Russia increased 6% to $5 billion, while Russia's exports to its ex-Soviet neighbor totaled $8.9 billion.