Putin visits Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin heads to Ukraine today for the first time since last year’s Orange Revolution protests ushered in a new, pro-Western government eager to loosen the Kremlin’s influence over this ex-Soviet republic.

Putin is scheduled to hold talks with President Viktor Yushchenko and dine with Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko, who until last month was being threatened with arrest on bribery charges if she tried to enter Russia.

Yushchenko’s office was billing the trip – scheduled to last only several hours – as a chance for “eye to eye” talks.

It will be the two leaders’ second face-to-face meeting. Yushchenko travelled to the Kremlin a day after his inauguration – fulfilling a campaign promise to preserve a good relationship with Russia even as Ukraine reorients itself to the West.