Putin to attend Rus Baptism festivities in Kiev July 27-28

Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a working visit to Ukraine on July 27-28 timed to the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, the Kremlin press service reported on Wednesday. On July 27, Putin will join the praying service on the Vladimirskaya Gorka in Kiev and visit the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra to present Russian awards to the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate for big contribution to the development of friendly relations between the peoples and for strengthening spiritual traditions. During the visit, Putin will have talks with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich to discuss key issues of bilateral cooperation, primarily trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian issues. The presidents of both countries will exchange views on integration interaction on the Eurasian space. On July 28, Putin and Yanukovich will arrive in Sevastopol to take part in the celebrations making Navy Day.