Ukraine signed a deal on Russia’s Black Sea fleet based in Crimea

Ukraine Defense Minister Mikhail Yezhel and his Russian counterpart, Anatoly Serdyukov, signed a deal Wednesday on Russia’s Black Sea fleet based in Crimea, southern Ukraine.

“Under the deal, the Russian side is committed to annually inform the Ukrainian side about the exact number of its personnel, equipment and weapons of the Black Sea fleet based on Ukrainian territory,” Ukraine’s defense ministry said in a statement.

The signing ceremony took place at bilateral talks held right after the 59th meeting of the council of defense ministers of Commonwealth of Independent States members, which took place Wednesday in Livadia, Crimea.

Russia and Ukraine would soon sign an agreement on re-equipment of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Serdyukov said adding “the deal will be remarkable and significant”.

The Russian minister also confirmed that both countries planned to expand cooperation on joint military exercises.

Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych and Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in April signed an agreement extending the period of the Black Sea Fleet’s stay in Crimea until 2042, with a possible extension for another five years.