MOSCOW, Dec. 19 - The substantial economic assistance that Russia should provide to Ukraine in line with the Tuesday agreements between the two countries has been dictated primarily by the fact that Ukraine has found itself in a difficult financial and political situation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"I'll tell you without any sarcasm: we often hear phrases like 'brotherly country' or 'brotherly nation', and we see today that Ukraine is in a difficult situation economically, socially, and politically," Putin said at a press conference on Thursday.