OREANDA-NEWS. September 28, 2010. Ukraine wants to rebuild its trade fleet jointly with Russia, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told journalists on Tuesday.

"We are ready to work together with Russia. We propose our partners to jointly rebuild our trade fleets - Russian and Ukrainian," he said.

The minister added that Ukraine's shipbuilding industry was currently experiencing "certain difficulties."

Ukraine's transportation ministry earlier said Moscow may simplify the permission procedure for Ukrainian cargo vessels wishing to navigate Russian waterways. The deal, which would allow Ukrainian ships easy access to Russia's major Don and Volga rivers via the Sea of Azov, is expected to be finalized in late October.