Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych (L) shakes hands with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev after signing agreements at the Kremlin in Moscow, capital of Russia, March 5, 2010. Yanukovych paid his first visit to Moscow after inauguration on Friday. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)

The presidents of Russia and Ukraine on Friday pledged to improve bilateral ties after years of tension under Ukraine's pro-Western leadership.

"I hope that, with the arrival of a new president in Ukraine, the relations between our countries will assume a new quality in dynamics, become much closer, and be based on kind sentiments and pragmatism," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych during their Kremlin meeting.

Yanukovych, making his first visit to Moscow since he was sworn in last month, promised to end his country's strained relations with Russia, saying that bilateral ties should never have reached such a low level.

"One of my key tasks is to make sure that relations between Russia and Ukraine take a U-turn in the right direction. We must live up to the expectations of the people of Ukraine and Russia," Yanukovych said.

It is necessary to take advantage of the potential of the two countries' relations, as well as the traditional ties between their economies and industrial sectors against the backdrop of the global economic crisis, he said.

At a press conference after the Kremlin talks, Yanukovych said the two countries would soon find solutions to the deployment of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, suggesting that Russia could be allowed to use the Ukrainian naval base after its lease expires in 2017.

"I think that we will soon get an answer which will satisfy both Ukraine and Russia," Yanukovych told reporters.

Medvedev said talks on the Black Sea Fleet's presence in the Crimean Peninsula would continue on the basis of the current agreements signed in 1997.

The two leaders also said their governments would hold talks on cooperation in the energy sector, including natural gas.

Disputes over gas prices have strained bilateral relations in the past years and affected supplies to European customers as Ukraine hosts a major transit route for Russian gas supplied to Europe.

"We have agreed that we will give orders to the governments and ministers to enter into a full-scale partnership and discuss cooperation in the energy sphere, both in the gas sector and on other energy issues," Medvedev said at the news conference.

Meanwhile, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said on Friday the idea of a gas consortium with Ukraine remained on the table.

"Russia has never retreated and has not ceased to raise the issue of a gas consortium with Ukraine," Shmatko said at a news conference following a meeting between the two presidents.

However, the energy minister said gas prices were not touched upon during Friday's meeting in the Kremlin.

Yanukovych was expected to seek revisions to the Russia-Ukraine gas contract and a better gas price for Ukraine, which is struggling with the global economic downturn.

Relations between Moscow and Kiev deteriorated during the previous presidency of Viktor Yushchenko over an array of disputes, ranging from Ukraine's bid for NATO membership to bitter gas rows.