Ukrainian-Russian Relations are passing a decisive stage of development, so any impediments to these relations should be prevented.
It is declared in the joint article by Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Sergei Mironov, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, entitled "Russia and Ukraine: from the View of a Historical Optimism" published in the parliamentary newspaper Holos Ukrainy on the eve of the official visit of S. Mironov to Ukraine.
"We shall always remember the essential fact: the connections between Russian and Ukrainian people are ‘special relations´. Their roots and mutual history are so strong and interwoven that if one tries to separate at least one element, their logics would be disturbed," the article reads.
However, V. Lytvyn and S. Mironov stated that our relations had been greatly deformed recently, since "certain political decisions were dictated by the demands of a situation", which gave rise to a dangerous tendency when "in the conscious of both friendly and fraternal nations appeared the elements of mutual distrust and estrangement." "One Party held the course for alienation from Russia. The second one disregarded the legal goals of Ukraine as a sovereign state to build its own foreign policy. Such a situation might have undermined the basis of our cooperation", the article states.
Hence, the Heads of the Parliaments emphasized the necessity to mark out the most important facts in the history of our nations "all that unites the friendly nations and strengthens the relations between them."
Speaking on the fundamental issues of the modern Russian-Ukrainian relations, V. Lytvyn and S. Mironov stressed that it was essential to choose a correct algorithm in actions under the present challenges: "First of all, it means that two friendly nations exist in the framework of two sovereign and independent states. We are convinced that it is of principal importance for the right appreciation of a modern context in Russian-Ukrainian relations."
The Chairmen of the Parliaments are convinced that Russia and Ukraine have mutual interests in almost all the spheres, as well as common visions on stability and security in Europe, the Black Sea Region, and cooperation in the territory of CIS.
In the economic sphere, according to V. Lytvyn and S. Mironov, there is a justified need to renovate and strengthen the close connections. "It is of special importance in the light of strategic tasks, declared by our Presidents, to synchronize social economic development of two states", the article reads.
The Head of the Parliament believes that potential of bilateral cooperation is inexhaustible in the spheres of innovations, cooperation in aviation and space industries, nuclear engineering and machinery construction. Interaction in these fields, according to V. Lytvyn and S. Mironov, would facilitate economic modernization in Russia and Ukraine, which is quite significant under the conditions of the global economic crisis and severe competition within the world markets.
The Chairmen drew attention to the cooperation on the formation of a modern highly-developed transport infrastructure to assist the interregional cooperation.
"We are convinced that Russia and Ukraine could successfully develop political and economic connections with any subjects of international law. The principal fact is that it should not damage either of the countries, and should not contradict interests of the Russian and Ukrainian nations. Russia as well as Ukraine is interested in the fruitful cooperation with NATO, the EU and other international structures. Non-affiliated status of Ukraine in no way contradicts its interests. Quite the opposite, it creates new opportunities within the international space under the conditions of multipolar visions", the article reads.
Among the biggest achievements of our states, V. Lytvyn and S. Mironov singled out "the friendly social connections of Russia and Ukraine that have strong roots and centuries-long history", although "they are fleshed-out and diverse, which forms the bone of the Russian-Ukrainian relations."
"We should exert the efforts to prevent deterioration of relations between Ukraine and Russia. It would be a historical crime. If we make it possible, future generations of Russians and Ukrainians would never understand and forgive us, although they would be quite right. We are strongly convinced that only strengthening and preserving of the foundation of Russian-Ukrainian relations allows us to be optimistic and confident in the future of our fraternal states", the Head of the Parliaments explained.