OREANDA-NEWS. April 21, 2010. The two presidents signed an agreement on the presence of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet on Ukrainian territory. The new agreement extends the presence of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet on Ukrainian territory for 25 more years, with an option of an additional 5-year extension after the term expires, if neither party chooses to terminate the agreement.

The two leaders also oversaw the signing of agreements on the volumes and terms of Russian gas transit via Ukraine, and on terms of [Russian] gas sales [to Ukraine] through to 2019.

Speaking at a press conference following the talks, Mr Medvedev said that these agreements mark a real step by the two countries towards a new partnership with each other.

President Medvedev called the unscheduled meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart very important and noted the need to mend the gap in contacts at all levels between the two countries that had formed over the last years.

Mr Medvedev also said that the Russian and Ukrainian economies are closely knotted together by thousands of economic ties, and the Russian and Ukrainian peoples are very close. Mr Yanukovych also noted the two countries’ high degree of economic integration and said that this is something that Russia and Ukraine should put to effective use, developing the economic ties, humanitarian cooperation and friendly contacts that people in both countries want very much.  

The two leaders pledged to put Russian-Ukrainian relations back on a strategic track.

The two presidents also met with the leaders of Russian and Ukrainian border regions to discuss, in particular, building up economic ties and production cooperation, developing small and medium-sized businesses, and simplifying customs and migration procedures.