"We decided to continue the destruction of the country": Russia responded to the intention of Ukraine to terminate the agreement on the Sea of ​​Azov

The Kiev authorities once again threatened to break the “Agreement between the Russian Federation and Ukraine on cooperation in the use of the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait”. This time such a statement was made by the country's foreign minister, Pavel Klimkin, according to whom denunciation of the agreement will occur “in the foreseeable future.”

“We will do it. Then, when after the hearings, we will fully fix the legal position and resolve issues on international arbitration. If we had broken it earlier, Russia would have used it to weaken our legal position, ”the diplomat said in an interview with the Ukrainian portal Tsenzor.net *.

At the same time, according to him, it is necessary to understand that the termination of the agreement on Azov "is not a panacea." At the same time, Klimkin accused Moscow of “usurping rights with respect to the Kerch Strait” and “creeping occupation of the Sea of ​​Azov”.

Recall that a year ago, in February 2018, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry filed a memorandum with the UN International Tribunal on Russia's alleged violation of the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. According to Kiev, the Russian side violated the sovereign rights of Ukraine in the Black and Azov Seas, as well as in the Kerch Strait.

“On April 19, 2019, Ukraine will expire on the response to the Russian counter-memorial, which is currently under consideration by the Arbitration Court. I think that soon we will have to expect not only regular statements from representatives of the Ukrainian country, but also attempts with the help of the North Atlantic Alliance to provoke new clashes in the Kerch Strait, ”Olga said in an interview with RT in the RT Committee on Defense and Security Committee. Kovitidi.

Back in September 2018, Klimkin stated the need to revise the entire legal framework that governs relations with Moscow, including the agreement on the legal status of water areas, signed on December 24, 2003. According to the provisions of the document, these territories are historically inland waters of the two countries, therefore, all emerging issues and disputes should be resolved through consultation and negotiation.

The discussion on this issue sharply escalated in November, when three ships of the Ukrainian Naval Forces illegally crossed the state border of the Russian Federation and entered the territorial waters of the country. Then the FSB border guards were forced to use force to detain vessels, 22 sailors and two officers of the SBU. Subsequently, it turned out that they deliberately agreed to a violation of the established procedure for the maritime passage through the Kerch Strait. Currently, Ukrainian citizens are in custody.

Meanwhile, in January 2019, the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted the breakdown of 49 bilateral agreements, the main of which can be called the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership with the Russian Federation.

In addition, the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Volodymyr Omelyan, said that the state budget of the country was about 10 billion hryvnas short of the alleged blockade of ports in the Sea of ​​Azov by Russia.

"In this situation, they will lose a lot"

Such statements by representatives of the current Kiev authorities are largely due to the presidential elections in Ukraine scheduled for March 31, said Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council’s international affairs committee.

“Now attention is focused on the Sea of ​​Azov, and, above all, from the citizens of Ukraine. They have no special victories and achievements in the country, only losses. Although, they, of course, make a good face on a bad game. Therefore, a statement followed that they were going to terminate the treaty on the Sea of ​​Azov, ”the senator said.

According to him, in the near future it will become clear whether the Ukrainian side will go to denounce the agreement, but such an action will in any case be directed primarily against the Ukrainians themselves.

“Of course, in this situation, they will lose a lot. But, this decision will be made after the election of the President of Ukraine and it will be necessary to think about it. But it still seems to me that they will not break the contract due to the large number of minuses for Ukraine from this action, ”explained Tsekov in an interview with RT.

In turn, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Viktor Vodolatsky pointed to the hypocrisy of the Ukrainian authorities in the current situation.

“They have already broken all imaginable and unthinkable agreements, or announced it, but continue to use our gas, our industrial and food products, without showing Europe that they have the biggest trade with Russia,” the parliamentarian noted.

He also pointed out the “inferiority” made by Klimkin’s statements, since the breach of the agreement on the Sea of ​​Azov would have a negative impact on Ukraine.

“It is clear that the Kiev authorities by their actions have long put Ukraine on its knees and decided to continue the destruction of the country. What is the procedure for further action after the rupture Klimkin, most likely, did not explain. Because he himself understands the absurdity of his statement. It is all about electoral program and rhetoric. I think after the elections all these statements will become insignificant and they will forget them. I am sure that before March 31 we will hear and see more than one statement related to the relations between Ukraine and Russia, ”concluded Vodolatsky.

* “Tsenzor.net” is an online resource whose materials are recognized as extremist and banned in Russia by decision of the Kirovsky District Court of Volgograd dated 04.09.2015.