Russia and Ukraine sign agreements on Black Sea Fleet and gas price
Published: 21 April, 2010, 17:04
Edited: 01 July, 2010, 18:29
TAGS: Russia, Ukraine, Politics
The lease of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet base in Ukraine’s Crimea will be extended for 25 more years beyond 2017.
President Dmitry Medvedev and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich signed the agreement after the talks in Kharkov, eastern Ukraine, on Wednesday.
The document stipulates a five-year extension after the term expires.
The previous agreement on the lease was signed in 1997 for 20 years. Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko described the possible prolongation of the document a factor “destabilizing” the situation in his country. Yanukovich, elected president in February, has pledged to improve ties with Russia.
The heads of state also signed a gas deal which stipulates a discount of $100 per 1,000 cubic meters at the natural gas price of $330 and a 30 per cent discount on other prices, RIA Novosti news agency said. Discounts will come into effect from April this year. Russia’s Gazprom plans to supply 36.5 billion cubic meters to Ukraine this year.
Moscow will also invest $40 billion over the next 10 years in Ukrainian gas sphere. Ukraine transits about 80 per cent of Russian natural gas exports to Europe. In exchange, Moscow may be offered participation in Ukrainian energy projects and a stake in the country’s gas transportation system.
The gas price issue has been remaining one of the most important topics in the bilateral relations. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with his Ukrainian counterpart Nikolay Azarov a day before Medvedev’s trip to Kharkov. According to Azarov, the two governments have come to a “common position.” But the details of the agreement had to be discussed by the presidents.
Medvedev said he wanted his first visit to Ukraine as president to become one of the steps that should “turn ordinary relations into a partnership, returning to them the quality of strategic relations between two very close countries.”
As the relations were chilly under former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Medvedev believes the main task now is to fill all the gaps in relations on all levels. The meetings between the countries’ leaders are necessary to gain results, he noted, promising to pay a full-format official visit later.
“There’s practically no doubt that this is a manifestation of a positive trend. We can be more or less sure that in the upcoming years the situation will be much better and much more productive than in previous years,” says Mikhail Dmitriev of the centre for Ukrainian Studies at Moscow State University, about the recent deals struck between Russia and Ukraine.
“The deal shows that realistic forces have come to power in Ukraine and that they really reflect the interests of the Ukrainian people”, Konstantin Sivkov, vice president of the Academy of Geopolitical issues, told RT.
“For the people of our two countries, it will mean the easing of tension, the strengthening of good neighborly relations with each other and the radical increase in the possibility for mutual economic development,” he added.
Sergey Borisov, RT
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Well said, Kihnu! If the "free press" of countries in the U.S-led alliance of global aggression were free to make such statements, their credibility would grow and so might their readership. But the press and other media are not free... To write as you do is not being "anti-American". Nor do your comments show "paranoia", or "self-hatred" or "conspiracy theory". These are terms of abuse that have been taught to American correspondents, and repeated by pseudo intellectuals, for the past four decades. They have passed their date of credibility. I have changed the parameters from "America" to "U.S.-led alliance" to convey the immensity of the undeclared wars waged by the U.S.and its allies against peoples since 1946. You have outlined the more recent outrages. The U.S. has coerced, bribed or terrorized nations from Africa to Australia, from Europe to South Korea, into these sordid and murderous alliances. And the process continues, now in Africa and Central Asia. These U.S.-led alliances always have a military basis or component. They are in continuous secret or overt action. They are always destructive power being unleashed against helpless peoples whose resources or geo-strategic position the U.S. covets. Diplomacy, especially in the current Russian style, represents civilized values. Now, as in the past, it confronts barbarism. Didn't George Bernard Shaw once say that the United States is the only country to have gone from primitivism to decadence without passing through a stage of civilization?
Great deal for both! There is not same eg.(not many endeed) enywhere in the world of two states who share almost everithing true history and are alike as Russia and Ukraine...Ukraine place is next to Russia by all means! This deal is huge plus(big money) for Ukraine-the very first step for better future ....Russia Black sea fleet is also Ukrainian navy-history facts show Fleet always act in Ukraine national intrest! Mr.Yanukovich will bring better future for all Ukraine citizens.I believe its just a begining-there is more to come...Russia was and always will be there for Ukraine! Ukraine and Russia are blood brothers-people of both states shall never ever forget that! Good luck to both...Thanke you!












It's so typical- pro-Russian Ukraine - " very good move for both Russia and Ukraina" , "great future", Slavic brotherhood, happines ... etc. Pro - American Ukraine is evil, horrible, puppets, death, misery, discrimination etc. Kihnu- "NATO and America set their sights on bringing the former USSR republics and Warsaw Pact nations under their influence by sponsoring and supporting various politicians and political movements (so-called "color revolutions") favorable to the West.Their prime targets were always Poland and Ukraine." Since 1776 Polish–American relations have been very good. Poland is one of the most stable European allies of the United States. Communist government installed in Warsaw by the Soviet government in 1945 was anti-American, but Polish people have unofficially always considered United States a friendly power, and the Soviet Union an occupant. Yes, USA/NATO/Vatican provided funds, equipment and advice to the Solidarity but it was spontanic patriotic movement - united some 10 million members and vastly contributed to the fall of communism. Ukraine, Belarus, Caucas, Baltic countries were targets and Poland in 1989 was again (after WW2) Western-style liberal democratic state. I think that Poland is tradicionally pro-Western country. Ukraine is now divided country. Belarus is authoritarian regime- pro Venezuelian :). Baltics countries are pro-Western. Geoergia is pro-Western. Armenia is pro-Russian and Azerbaijan is neutral.