Israel meets Yanukovych as president creating new future for Ukraine, says Peres

Israeli President Shimon Peres has said that his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych is a head of state, who creates a new future for Ukraine.

"Since this is a historic visit, we welcome you as a person who creates a new future for a new Ukraine, as a president elected by the people, the one, who is trying to build bridges between East and West," the Israeli president said receiving his Ukrainian counterpart in Jerusalem on Thursday.

Peres said that Israel views Yanukovych as the president who does not build the wall, but builds the connection between the Eastern and Western Europe.

Yanukovych is on a state visit to Israel from November 30 to December 1.