MOSCOW. April 14 (Interfax) - Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II is going to Ukraine for the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of Russia's baptism. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the country will support in every way closer church relations between Russia and Ukraine.

"This year is the 1020th anniversary of Russia's baptism. Most celebrations are expected to take place in Ukraine, but we should not lag behind," the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church told the president at a meeting.

This date will allow to sum up the results: "when we celebrated the millennium, what we had then and what we have 20 years later," Alexy II said. "During these 20 years many things have changed in the spiritual life and in the country in general, which is a different country now," the patriarch said.

"That the celebrations will be held in Ukraine is also good. It is another reminder of our common spiritual roots," Putin said.

Alexy II said he had accepted an invitation to lead the Russian Orthodox Church's delegation at the celebrations in Ukraine. "We should consider a visit, because I have not been in Ukraine since 1997. There was no invitation. Now that there is one, it should be used. This is a uniting moment and celebrations should be held together," the Russian patriarch said. "We share the same baptismal font, the Kyiv font," he added.