Stockholm - The prime ministers of Sweden and Ukraine Friday discussed Ukraine's efforts to form closer ties with the European Union.

Sweden hoped to see an association agreement in place between the 27-nation bloc and Ukraine during Sweden's six-month presidency of the EU next year, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said.

Speaking at a joint news conference, Ukrainian Premier Yulia Tymoshenko said she expected a pending "strategic agreement" with Russia would resolve and "normalize" issues like gas supplies, the day after it was reported that Russia wanted Ukraine to repay a 2.4-billion-dollar gas debt.

Touching on bilateral ties, both premiers noted that trade between Sweden and Ukraine had increased in recent years. (dpa)