KIEV, May 18 - Russia could become the main investor in Ukraine's economy, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.

"Russia could evolve into the main investor - not for geopolitical reasons, but just because we are very related economies and are indeed strongly connected," Medvedev told Russian and Ukrainian businesspeople.

Russia's direct investment in the Ukrainian economy was estimated at some $2.7 billion as of January 1, he said.