MOSCOW, October 18 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow is ready to cooperate with any Ukrainian government formed after snap parliamentary elections September 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
"I hope the objective reality will encourage our partners to develop cooperation with the Russian Federation regardless of the government formed in Ukraine or the platform it might base its activity on," the president said during his annual question and answer session live on TV.
"We want this and we will act accordingly," Putin added.
Referring to statistics, the president said there were up to 17 million ethnic Russians in Ukraine and some 4 million Ukrainians, including temporary residents, in Russia. He said: "The social well-being of millions of Russians and Ukrainians depends directly on the relationship between our countries."
Speaking of energy supplies, the Russian leader said cooperation in the sphere should follow market rules. "Ukrainian economic subsidies have stood at $3-$5 billion at the expense of low energy prices annually for the past 15 years. Ukraine has never received and will never receive similar support from any other country," Putin said.
However, he pledged to switch to market relations "mildly, calmly and friendly, without hurting our partners in Ukraine."
