Ukraine election winner Viktor Yanukovych on Wednesday earmarked relations with Russia as a priority of his presidency, in his first major foreign policy statement since the results were announced.
"A priority for us will be relations with Russia and the CIS," he said in a statement referring to the Commonwealth of Independent States grouping of post-Soviet states.
"Our countries are closely linked by economics, culture and history. Our economies complement each other. These advantages should be used for the good of our peoples," he said.
Ukraine's relations with Russia had deteriorated badly under its current President, the vehemently pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko.