Russia and Ukraine will draw up a project on the unification of the two countries' aircraft industries in the near future, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said in an interview with Russian daily Izvestia. "The unification of the two countries' efforts [in the aircraft production sphere] will have a significant effect. Currently this issue is being worked out practically, and I believe that the project will be presented in the near future," Yanukovych told the paper. The possibility of uniting the two former Soviet states' aircraft industries was discussed during a visit by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, in May, the paper said.
"Naturally, we will find ways to unite our aircraft construction companies... It is beneficial for us. We are interested in increasing the number of finished [aircraft] products," the Ukrainian president said. "There is a possibility of assembling certain plane models in Ukraine and others in Russia," he said. Relations between Russia and Ukraine, which deteriorated during the presidency of pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko, have improved significantly since Yanukovych came to power in February.
