KIEV, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said on Monday that relations between Russia and Ukraine will improve dramatically in the next few years, calling Russia a strategic partner to Ukraine.

    "We must carry out a historic reconciliation," Yushchenko said on ICTV Channel on Monday evening, adding that Russia has always been Ukraine's strategic partner.

    "We should move away from the policy of 'junior brother'. We are a decent and a free brother. I would like to stress again that we are the Ukrainian nation, which is a free and independent state," he said.

    Yushchenko also noted that Ukraine "loves its neighbors, the great Russian people and the whole of Russia."

    Relations between the former Soviet republics have soured in recent years over many issues, including a bid by Ukraine's pro-Western government to join NATO, the future of Russia's Black Sea Fleet base in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol, and energy prices.

    Ukraine backed Georgia during its five-day conflict with Russia in August. Moscow has accused Kiev of supplying weapons to the conflict zone, but Ukraine has denied the charge.