KIEV, January 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has asked Ukraine to partner with it in constructing nuclear power plants in third countries, the Ukrainian prime minister said Saturday. Yuriy Yekhanurov said he had discussed nuclear fuel supplies to Ukraine, the disposal of nuclear waste and the joint use of nuclear power plants with Sergei Kiriyenko, the head of the Russian Federal Agency for Nuclear Power.

Kiriyenko said Russia was interested in Ukrainian products, including turbines, automatic control systems and pumps.

He said his meeting with Yekhanurov "would boost the development of bilateral relations in the nuclear sphere".

"Ukraine and Russia have serious plans to build nuclear power plants," he said.

Kiriyenko also said the two countries were drafting a new agreement on nuclear fuel supplies until 2010.

"Prices would be mutually beneficial," he said.