Ukraine's top diplomat Friday reassured Russia that Kiev was not in talks with Washington over the new US missile shield plan, as he sought to mend relations eroded by a series of crises.
"No one has reached out to Ukraine with the initiative on missile defence," said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Petro Poroshenko, following what he said were "very constructive" talks with his Russian counterpart.
"As of today, there are no grounds for such a discussion," he said, speaking on the Echo of Moscow radio.
Russia said earlier this month it was concerned about the US proposals for a revamped missile shield plan for Europe following reports they could involve Ukraine.
Poroshenko said he and his Russian colleague Sergei Lavrov had discussed the possible joint use of Ukraine's "high radio electronics and space potential," adding that other countries were also welcome to join them at a later stage.
Ukraine's first deputy minister of defence Valery Ivashchenko, speaking in Sofia earlier this week, indicated that Ukraine was ready to grant the US access to its early-warning radar facilities to protect against possible missile threats from Iran.
The United States in September shelved a plan to place missile defence facilities in the Czech Republic and Poland that had worried Moscow, in a move greeted with enthusiasm by the Kremlin
However Washington is proposing a new system that has been backed this week by Prague, Warsaw and Bucharest.
Poroshenko was in Moscow on a mission to mend ties, becoming the highest-ranking Ukrainian official to come to Russia since the Kremlin swore off doing business with its current leadership in August.
Earlier Friday, Poroshenko told Lavrov that Ukraine wanted to leave the past behind.
"Ukraine is ready for the resumption of dialogue at all levels, including the highest one," Poroshenko said.
"I can assure you that all branches of power without exception — the president, the prime minister, the parliament and the opposition — are today interested in Ukraine having an effective, equal, partner-like and strategic attitude towards Russia," he told reporters after the talks.
In August, Russian President Medvedev accused his fiercely pro-Western Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko of pursuing "anti-Russian" policies, saying Russia could not have normal ties with Ukraine as long as he remained in power.
Talks to give Ukraine a five-billion-dollar loan it had requested have also been put on ice.
Medvedev snubbed Yushchenko again earlier this month, refusing to meet with him on the sidelines of a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a grouping of ex-Soviet countries, in Moldova.
Lavrov offered measured praise of Friday's talks, indicating however that a number of outstanding issues remained.
"We've… agreed that the solution of issues, including any disputed issues which arise one way or another should be held on the basis of dialogue, talks, in a calm manner, without unneeded politicization," Lavrov said.
Poroshenko said the two countries had agreed to ramp up economic cooperation and also resume regular consultations at the level of deputy ministers, including on "issues of European security."
The task of improving the badly strained ties with Russia falls to a figure also known as the "chocolate king" for his confectionery factories.
Poroshenko, who has no past diplomatic experience and who previously supervised the Ukrainian central bank, was named foreign minister by parliament on October 9.
The visit comes just months before Ukraine is set to elect a new president in a vote which experts say Yushchenko has no chance of winning.
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