Timoshenko: if power changes in Ukraine, Black Sea Fleet agreements will be denounced

18.02.2011 Agreements prolonging presence of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea till 2042 will be denounced (unilaterally annulled) if Ukraine's ruling power is changed, said Ukrainian ex-premier and leader of opposition Yulia Timoshenko.

Russian and Ukrainian presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Viktor Yanukovich signed an agreement on Apr 21, 2010 in Kharkov which prolongs presence of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea in exchange for one-third discount of gas price for Ukraine.

"Those agreements will be denounced when Ukrainians return to power", said Mrs. Timoshenko in Thursday night show on Ukrainian TV channel TBi.

She said she would never sign such agreements if she was the president.

Timoshenko lost presidential race in Feb 2010; the gap between her and Viktor Yanukovich was about 3.5% votes.