Russia Ready For Close Cooperation With Ukraine

Putin, in a telephone call, congratulated Yushchenko on the completion of the March 26 elections. He said the vote demonstrated the predominant aspirations of Ukrainian citizens to develop comprehensive relations with Russia.

The two leaders also discussed Putin's visit to Ukraine later this year. A date for the visit has yet to be set.

With nearly all the ballots counted, the pro-Russian Party of Regions has won the most votes. In second place is the bloc of Yuliya Tymoshenko, a former Orange Revolution all of Yushchenko. Yushchenko's own Our Ukraine bloc is third.

The other two parties to make it into parliament were the Socialists and the Communists.

(compiled from agency reports)