Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych besides participation in the first Ukrainian-Russian interregional economic forum in Gelendzhik also met behind closed doors. Ukrainian political analysts expressed the view that this private meeting was dedicated to the "Belarusian issue".
«I think that Medvedev used this one-to-one meeting to find out the attitude of Yanukovych towards the situation with the Belarusian-Russian relations. Liquidation of Lukashenko (Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko — Telegraf) — is now a question of Medvedev success as Russian president. And Ukraine is important to show rhetorical solidarity or, at least, to keep neutrality, not to circumvent the Russian interests, as it has taken place in the decision of the Ukrainian government on Chavez oil transit (Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez — Telegraf) for Belarus on the Ukrainian territory,» political analyst Vadim Karasev explained.
In turn, political analyst Viktor Nebozhenko believes that in the prevailing foreign policy situation, Russian government is in benefit when demonstrating the warm relations between Ukraine and Russia, the Ukrainian UINAN.
«There is now a very serious conflict between the «sister republics» Belarus and Russia. And Medvedev is very important to show that Yanukovych is in solidarity with him,» the expert said.
