State Duma approves denunciation of Russian-Ukrainian agreements on Black Sea Fleet

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MOSCOW, March 31. /ITAR-TASS/. The State Duma has approved the denunciation pf Russian-Ukrainian agreements on the Black Sea Fleet. The proposal was approved unanimously by 433 members of parliament.

On March 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a proposal to the State Duma on terminating the legal effect of a number of Russian-Ukrainian agreements on the parameters of division of the Black Sea Fleet that were signed on May 28, 1997, as well as on the status and conditions of the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s deployment on the territory of Ukraine, on reciprocal payments in connection with the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s deployment in Ukraine, and on the stationing of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine (the latter agreement signed April 21, 2010).

Legal and financial aspects of denuncation

Russia is prepared to discuss with Ukrainian government legal and financial issues that may arise over Russia’s likely unilateral denunciation of the Black Sea Fleet treaties, Russian State Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said in the State Duma lower house of parliament on Monday.

“We do not rule out that over Russia’s unilateral termination of these treaties, legal, financial and proprietary issues, that will require settlement with Ukraine, may arise most likely,” Karasin said, noting that “we are prepared to discuss these issues with the Ukrainian government."