Ukrainian President Says To Sign Law Abolishing Treaty On Friendship With Russia On Monday

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Saturday he would sign the law on the termination of the 1997 Russia-Ukraine Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership on Monday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th December, 2018) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Saturday he would sign the law on the termination of the 1997 Russia-Ukraine Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership on Monday.

On Thursday, the Ukrainian parliament voted not to prolong the treaty after it expires on April 1, 2019. A total of 277 parliamentarians out of 450 supported the move.

"There is a certain symbolism in the termination of the agreement on the so-called friendship with Russia. I will sign the corresponding law on Monday," Poroshenko said on Twitter.

The friendship, cooperation and partnership treaty was signed by Moscow and Kiev 21 years ago. It is a key document governing bilateral relations and providing for a strategic partnership between the two countries.

Russia said Kiev's decision would further damage bilateral relations. Ukrainian opposition similarly condemned it as detrimental to Ukraine's national interests, saying the move would create a legal vacuum in the relations between the two countries.