Russia’s Lower House of Parliament says Moscow should cancel its friendship treaty with Ukraine if the country joins the membership plan for NATO. The two countries signed a treaty eleven years ago to provide security and boost business.
The MPs say they want to bring attention to what they see as Ukraine's unfriendly policy. Russian State Duma deputies have expressed concern on the rights of Russians living in Ukraine. The Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet is based in the Ukrainian port city of Sevastopol. But the Ukrainian Parliament says the move is an emotional over-reaction to unbalanced statements by some Ukrainian politicians.