Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev plan to join the Petersburg-Moscow-Kiev auto rally on Sept. 17, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said here Thursday. 'This significant event is planned for Sept. 17-18. Both presidents will take part in the rally in the border zone between Ukraine's Sumy region and Russia's Bryansk,' said Karasin at a press briefing in Kiev, adding the race will be followed by an informal meeting between Medvedev and Yanukovych in Moscow region. Medvedev visited Ukraine in June to attend an informal summit of the heads of the Commonwealths of Independence States in Crimea. Relations between Moscow and Kiev were strained during the presidency of pro- Europe Viktor Yushchenko. Since Ukraine's new president Viktor Yanukovych came to power in February 2010, bilateral relations have been greatly improved. 