On April 27, 2010 Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, ratified the agreement between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, which prolongs the stay of Russian Black Sea fleet in Ukraine for 25 additional years.
236 deputies gave their voices in favor of the agreement thought the required number needed for ratification is 226. As a result, the Russian navy has a right to base in Sevastopol port till 2042.
Black Sea Russian Fleet Base in Exchange for Natural Gas?
The agreement is a result of two months negotiations between Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. It was signed by the two Presidents on April 27, 2010 in Kharkiv (Ukraine), and is known as one of the ‘Kharkiv agreements’. In addition to prolongation of Russian fleet’s stay in Ukraine this set of documents includes an agreement about reducing the price for natural gas that Ukraine buys from Russia.
According to the signed papers, Russia will give Ukraine a 30% discount on natural gas, but not more than $100 per 1,000 cubic meters. At the same time, while Russia promises to pay around $100 million yearly starting with 28 May 2017 for the naval base, the gas discount will be deducted from this amount. It should also be remembered that the price Ukraine has recently been paying to Russia for natural gas is one of the highest in Europe - $330 for 1,000 cubic meters.
Verkhovna Rada Prolongs Russian Fleet’s Stay in Ukraine
The previous naval base deal signed between the countries allowed Russian fleet to stay in the Black Sea till 2017. Both ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yuschenko (2005-2010) and current opposition lead by former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko expected Russian fleet to leave the port of Sevastopol in 2017. Therefore, the new agreement has raised much debate in the country and caused the opposing parties interfere with the work of the parliament.
Ratification of the agreement was accompanied by pickets outside of the parliament’s building, flying eggs, umbrellas and a smoke bomb on the inside.
While opening the meeting the speaker of the parliament had to hide under umbrellas in order not to get hit by eggs and papers thrown at him. Opposition started a fight with the coalition representatives. People on the outside of the building were striking in an attempt to stop the parliament from voting.
Nevertheless, the opposing parties have not managed to stop the process.
To crown it all, Viktor Yanukovych even suggested giving Russia 11 kilometers of the Crimean shore for the Russian fleet to dislocate. This idea, however, has received no support at all.
Alla Kondrat - Alla Kondrat+ is a Feng Shui topic editor at Suite101.com, as well as a full time freelance writer and translator (Russian and Ukrainian). ...
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