The presidents of Russia and Ukraine made a concerted effort to put their relations on a sound footing on Saturday after the election of a pro-Western leader in Kiev, but left key outstanding issues unresolved.
Kremlin leader Mr Vladimir Putin and new liberal Ukrainian President Mr Viktor Yushchenko went out of their way to praise the atmosphere at their talks, and both said there were no differences the two sides could not resolve.
"Our meeting made us realize there are no questions to which we cannot find answers," Mr Yushchenko told a news conference. "We have taken a very important step to make relations between Ukraine and Russia highly constructive."
Putin agreed, saying there was no impression of problems besetting their relations. "There are questions we need to solve jointly," he said. "But this is the normal way of cooperation."
Mr Putin's visit was his first to Ukraine since Mr Yushchenko's victory in December following the "Orange Revolution" mass protests against election fraud. He had visited twice during the campaign, openly backing Mr Yushchenko's opponent.
But his comments after talks in Paris on Friday with the leaders of France, Germany and Spain made it plain he had put behind him his support for the new president's rivals.
Mr Yushchenko describes Russia as an "eternal strategic partner" and kept a campaign promise to make Moscow his first destination, traveling there the day after his inauguration.