Ukrainian President Yanukovych in Estonia on State Visit
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is making a one-day official visit to Tallinn today where his schedule includes meetings with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Speaker Ene Ergma and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip.
Ilves said after the meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart that Ukraine is heading in the direction of integration with Europe, and that the nation's politicians and parties support the direction.
He said that the European Union expects Ukraine to cement the same values that the union itself is based on, including freedom of speech, transparency and equal treatment before the law.
Three cabinet ministers have accompanied President Yanukovych to Estonia, with the Estonian economic minister, Juhan Parts, and the Ukrainian infrastructure minister, Volodymyr Kazak, signing a Protocol of Intentions for cooperation in developing the transport corridor between the Baltic and Black seas.
Less than two weeks ago, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara was also in Tallinn for an official visit.
Delfi reported today that two years ago Ilves refused to meet the Ukrainian foreign minister in protest of the imprisonment of Yulia Tymoshenko. Ilves met the previous president, Viktor Yushchenko, in 2006.