OREANDA-NEWS. November 27, 2008. Mr Putin congratulated Yulia Tymoshenko on her birthday and noted Russia's efforts to develop cooperation with its Ukrainian partners in all spheres. 

During their conversation, Mr Putin also touched on Ukraine's failure to pay for earlier Russian gas supplies and highlighted the importance of the timely repayment of Ukrainian gas debts and the conclusion of a gas supply contract [with Russia] in 2009. 

Earlier, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, which read in part:

"I would like to convey to you once again my interest in our joint work, which is aimed at further strengthening Russian-Ukrainian cooperation and boosting trade and economic, investment, scientific and technical, and cultural contacts between our two countries in the spirit of friendship and good-neighbourliness."