MOSCOW, July 5 - Russian President Vladimir Putin is to pay a working visit to Ukraine on July 12 to attend the fifth session of the Russian-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission chaired by the heads of state near Yalta, the Kremlin said on Thursday.

"It is expected that at the talks involving heads of a number of Russian and Ukrainian ministries and government departments, the parties will consider the status and prospects for bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy, transport, space, trade, economy, defense industry, and the humanities. Particular focus will be on gas cooperation and implementation of joint programs in the aviation industry," the statement said.