Ukrainian, Russian presidents to meet next week in Moscow

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych will meet his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev next week on September 24 in Moscow, daily Kommersant reported this morning, citing sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kommersant said the agenda would include gas prices for Ukraine and cooperation on the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union. Kommersant, without disclosing its source, said the meeting signaled that Ukraine could be willing to soften its stance on a new gas price discount after weeks of tough talk on the issue from officials on both sides. It is known the two presidents spoke on September 14 by phone on Medvedev’s birthday. The meeting will come one day after Yanukovych is due to attend a United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.