«The twenty-year history of the Russian-Ukrainian relations clearly shows that there can be no alternative to developing deep strategic partnership based upon the principles of equality, mutual respect and pragmatism. All other models of dialogue between our nations proved to be inherently flawed and contradictory to the national interests of both our country and the Russian Federation», – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Russian Federation Vladimir Elchenko in exclusive interview to Security Index.

"Ukraine is now maintaining fairly close nuclear industry cooperation with Russia. The country has as much interest in securing Russian participation in the Ukrainian nuclear energy sector as Russia itself does. Meanwhile, Russia needs the Ukrainian nuclear engineering assets and uranium deposits. Russia is planning to take part in the development of Ukraine's uranium deposits. The future of Russian-Ukrainian nuclear industry cooperation holds much promise - unless it is allowed once again to become hostage to purely political obstacles," – PIR Center President Vladimir Orlov.

“The election campaign in Ukraine has an impact on Russian-Ukrainian gas relations. The problem is not settled at the Russian-Ukrainian level, but also, and this is more important, at the level of EU-Russia. Ukraine plays the role of a buffer between Russia and the EU, even though it should become a strategic bridge of understanding between the two,” - Deputy Director of the Institute of the CIS Studies, Deputy Chairman of the Interregional Foundation of Presidential Programs Vladimir Zharikhin.