Russian President Vladimir Putin made a one-day fence-mending trip to Ukraine on Saturday to seek assurances the country's new government will not drive the two countries apart

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a one-day fence-mending trip to Ukraine on Saturday to seek assurances the country's new government will not drive the two countries apart. Putin flew to the Ukrainian capital from Paris and met President Viktor Yushchenko, who won election in December after street protests forced the reversal of an initial vote-count that gave victory to his opponent. It was Putin's first visit to Ukraine since the so-called Orange Revolution. In Paris, President Jacques Chirac assured Putin that Europe sought good relations with Moscow and the Russian leader had a similar message for Yushchenko. Common interests demand solid partnership, Putin said. "During today's meeting I was never left with the feeling that our relationship has problems," Putin said. "There are questions but we will resolve those in a working manner." Yushchenko said his goal is for "Vladimir Putin and Russia to understand that the new Ukrainian government is a responsible government, which will always demonstrate honesty." Saturday's brief visit was the second meeting between the leaders. Yushchenko travelled to the Kremlin a day after his inauguration, fulfilling a campaign promise to preserve a good relationship with Russia, even as Ukraine seeks membership in the European Union and NATO.