The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has demanded that Russia start preparations on the withdrawal of its Black Sea Fleet from Crimea, according to Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko.
He said that Ukraine had already proposed Russia to start preparing for gradual withdrawal of its troops from Ukraine, as this process could take much time. However, Ohryzko said the Russian side had not yet responded to this.
Ohryzko noted that his country would not like to worsen relations with Russia due to the fleet's presence in Ukraine, however, it would do its best, so that its position is heard by Russia.
Ukraine and Russia signed an intergovernmental agreement on mutual calculations, the status and conditions for the Russian Black Sea Fleet's stay in Ukraine on May 28, 1997. The document reads that Russia will rent part of Sevastopol to deploy the fleet's main base for 20 years until 2017.
