Ukraine officially scraps Friendship Treaty with Russia

Today, the Official Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine published the Law on the termination of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, the Rada website reports.

"The Official Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine published the Law on the termination of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation," RIA Novosti cited the statement as saying.

On December 10, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree terminating the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership with Russia. On December 6, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) has upheld Poroshenko’s decision to terminate the Treaty on Friendship with Russia.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry notified the Russian Foreign Ministry that the treaty with Russia will remain in effect until April 1, 2019.

Ukraine and Russia inked the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership on May 31, 1997. The Treaty came into force on April 1, 1999 for a term of ten years with automatic extension for further ten-year periods if neither of the sides decides otherwise.

Moscow expressed deep regret over the Ukrainian leadership's decision to terminate the Russian-Ukrainian Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership.