Poroshenko will announce the termination of the friendship treaty with Russia before September 30.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Photo: EPA-EFE

“When I receive some proposals from the Foreign Ministry, I plan to hold a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council soon and before September 30 I will inform Russia about not extending this treaty,” he said at a meeting with leaders of parties and groups in parliament.

“This treaty does not end because it is a difficult and lengthy procedure. It expires because it is not renewed,” he asserted, adding that this is a matter within the President’s sole authority and does not require a vote by the National Assembly.

On August 28, Mr. Poroshenko asked the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to prepare a package of documents to start the process of terminating the treaty, which he described as “obsolete.” Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin said Ukraine would officially announce its plans to terminate the 1997 Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership with Russia by September 30.

On August 30, Klimkin affirmed that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had prepared all the necessary documents.

Ukraine and Russia signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership in May 1997. The treaty entered into force in April 1999 for a period of 10 years, automatically extending for another 10 years unless both sides decide otherwise. The parties must declare whether they plan to extend or terminate the treaty by October this year.