KIEV, Dec. 24 – President Viktor Yanukovych says he expects newly appointed Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara to aim the country's foreign policy at assistance to Ukrainian companies on foreign markets.

"The foreign policy should be economized [i.e. it should support Ukrainian companies on the foreign markets]," the president said at a meeting with diplomats at the Foreign Ministry in Kiev on Monday.

The head of state noted that Ukrainian authorities should do their utmost to preserve the traditional markets, as well as extend their geography and search for new markets to sell Ukrainian goods.