Poroshenko submits bill on breaking Friendship Treaty with Russia

Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko has submitted to the parliament a bill terminating the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership with Russia, the parliament’s website said, adding that the bill was described as urgent.

According to the bill, the Treaty is supposed to be terminated on April 1, 2019. An explanatory note says that the move "will release Ukraine from obligations to implement the document but will not affect the country’s rights, obligations and legal status stemming from the implementation of the Treaty before its termination."

On September 17, Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko signed a decree enforcing the Ukrainian Security Service’s decision to terminate the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership with Russia. The Ukrainian cabinet later ordered the Foreign Ministry to inform Russia and international organizations about Kiev’s wish to terminate the Treaty on Friendship with Moscow before September 27. The Ukrainian government also instructed the Foreign Ministry, the Justice Ministry and the Ministry of Economic Development to ensure that "the cabinet submits a bill terminating the Treaty to the president" before October 22.

Under the Ukrainian law, the document must now be approved by the parliament.

Treaty on Friendship
Russia and Ukraine signed the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership in May 1997. The document, which entered into force in April 1999 for a term of ten years, could be automatically extended for ten-year periods provided the parties did not object. The document enshrines strategic partnership between the two countries and mutual obligations not to use one’s territory to harm the other’s security, as well as recognizes the inviolability of existing borders.

In October 2018, the period expired for the parties to announce their plans either to extend the treaty for another ten-year term or denounce the document.