Ukrainian President affirms that he will soon cancel the friendship treaty with Russia

Ukrainian President Poroshenko. Photo: TASS

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has issued instructions to the Foreign Ministry to promptly draft a package of documents on initiating the procedure for terminating the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership signed between Ukraine and Russia in 1997.

Mr. Poroshenko revealed this content on August 28 at a press conference with members of the Ukrainian diplomatic corps.

“Finally, after full preparations and the establishment of sufficient legal protection, we have moved to the next step, which is to annul the long-outdated Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation,” he said.

“I expect the Foreign Ministry to soon present the necessary package of documents for the rapid launch of this process,” Poroshenko said.

In April, the Ukrainian leader confirmed that he had submitted a bill on unilaterally terminating some provisions of the treaty to the Verkhovna Rada, the country's parliament, admitting that it was not possible to cancel the entire treaty but that suspending some provisions was necessary.

The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and Russia was signed in May 1997 and entered into force in April 1999 for a period of 10 years. The document includes a provision for automatic extension for another 10 years if the parties do not object.

The treaty stipulates the principle of strategic cooperation and declares the inviolability of existing borders, respect for territorial integrity and the respective obligations of both sides to refrain from using their territories to harm the security of the other.

October 2018 will be the deadline by which the parties need to declare their intention to either extend the treaty for another 10 years or terminate it.