Timoshenko promises to denounce the Black Sea Fleet treaty

14.03.2011 Leader of Ukrainian opposition ex-premier Yulia Timoshenko said Kiev would break the agreement prolonging Russia's Black Sea Fleet presence in Crimea, if her party wins coming parliamentary elections.

On Apr 2010 Russia and Ukraine tied an agreement prolonging presence of Russian Black Sea Fleet in Crimea after 2017 for 25 years with possibility of further voluntary extension for 5-year periods at the parties' mutual consent.

"When current administration is legally shelved, we will return Crimean lands to Ukraine; Black Sea Fleet will stay there not longer than it is constitutionally provided (till 2017)", said Mrs. Timoshenko at Friday's briefing.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov stated on Friday the gas discount granted by Russia in exchange for extended deployment of BSF had saved Ukrainian economy from bankruptcy.

The next Ukraine's parliamentary elections will be held in the falls 2012.