Parliament of Ukraine terminates treaty on friendship with Russia

December 6, 2018 (UKRINFORM) The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed the Law of Ukraine “On Termination of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.” As an Ukrinform correspondent reports, 277 lawmakers voted in favor of the adoption of this law. The law stipulates that the treaty on friendship with the Russian Federation will be terminated on April 1, 2019. The termination of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, given the fact that Russia has been violating it substantially and continuously and in accordance with Article 40 of this Treaty, is expected to facilitate proper and effective protection of the national interests of Ukraine in the international relations.

The approval of the draft law pursuant to Article 24 of the Law of Ukraine “On International Treaties of Ukraine” will allow completing the internal procedures required for the termination of the treaty due to the completion of the next ten-year period on March 31, 2019. As reported, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko tabled in the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on the termination of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. The respective bill was registered under No. 0206 on December 3. On September 17, President Petro Poroshenko enacted the decision of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council of September 6, 2018 to terminate the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and Russia. The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine was expected to inform Russia by September 30 about the termination of the May 31, 1997 Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.