Moscow, March 28 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday submitted to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, a proposal to terminate agreements with Ukraine over the Black Sea Fleet.
“Following the signing of the treaty between Russia and Crimea March 18, 2014, on Crimea’s accession to Russia and formation of two new regions within Russia, the essence of the Russian-Ukrainian agreements was lost due to the virtual cessation of legal relations of Russia renting facilities for its Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov were appointed presidential representatives to discuss the issue with both chambers of parliament, the statement said.
Under a “gas for fleet” deal signed in April 2010, Russia offered a $100 discount for gas supplies to Ukraine in exchange for extending its lease of the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea for 25 more years.
Last week, the Kremlin announced a plan to cancel the discount, saying the accord no longer existed as Crimea joined Russia after a referendum.