Ukraine ends friendship treaty, Russia regrets decision

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Ukraine's decision not to extend the friendship treaty with Russia is regrettable and against the Ukrainian people's interests, the Kremlin said on Monday

"We can only express regret for the fact that the Ukrainian leadership is making such hasty decisions that, from our viewpoint, are a manifestation of disrespect for their own people and their interests," Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, told reporters.

On Monday, Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko signed a law terminating the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership with Russia.

Poroshenko wrote on Facebook that the decision not to extend the treaty "should be considered not just as an episode but as part of our strategy to finally break with our colonial past and pivot towards Europe."

He sees "visa-free travels, the Ukraine-EU Association agreement and a tomos of autocephaly for the Ukrainian Church" as well as withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States, as parts of this strategy.

Ukraine's parliament, Verkhovna Rada, upheld the president's decision not to extend the Treaty on December 6.

In September, Poroshenko signed a decree to enforce a decision of the National Security and Defense Council to terminate the friendship treaty with Russia.

Under the agreement, which was signed in 1997 and took effect on April 1, 1999, Kiev and Moscow pledged to respect each other's borders and to peacefully settle disputes.

The agreement includes a clause that it automatically extends each 10 years if neither of the parties takes actions to end it.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow, which have been deteriorating since early 2014 over Crimea and eastern Ukraine, escalated last month.

On November 25, three Ukrainian ships attempting to sail through the Kerch Strait from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov were seized by Russian forces for allegedly violating the Russian border.

Seized Ukrainian military vessels are seen at the port of Kerch, Crimea, November 26, 2018. /VCG Photo

The Ukrainian Navy said that it had informed Russia in advance of the passage, while Russia said it had received no such report and the ships ignored multiple warnings by the Russian border guards.

In wake of the tension, Ukraine imposed martial law in 10 regions mainly bordering Russia for 30 days starting November 26.

(Cover photo: Members of Ukrainian parliament during a session after voting to consider a draft legislation, proposing to terminate a treaty on ties and cooperation with Russia, Kiev, Ukraine, December 6, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency