KIEV, Feb. 20 - The Russian State Duma and the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada will simultaneously ratify the CIS free trade zone agreement.

"We have agreed to the synchronous consideration of this important document, which will significantly facilitate trade operations between economic agents in our states," State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin told a Monday press conference in Kiev.

He also said he had agreed with Verkhovna Rada Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn to the ratification of the agreement on border crossing by residents of border territories in Russia and Ukraine.