Ex-president Kuchma: Black Sea Fleet is in Crimea for ever

31.05.2010 Former president of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma said in interview to Spanish El Pais that he saw no problems in prolongation of Russia's Black Sea Fleet deployment in Sevastopol till 2042. "From military and strategic points of view, the fleet constitutes no threat to Ukraine", he said.

Moreover, in opinion of the ex-president, Russian fleet will stay in Crimea for ever. "Is it possible to imagine that Russia will withdraw after termination of lease term? Noway, because there's nowhere to go; Novorossiysk base which Russia tries to build will cost billions dollars", said Kuchma.

"Is there anybody thinks we really need to tilt against Russia and someone will take our side? I'm sure neither EU nor the US won't lift a finger just because leaving Sevastopol would be a strong blow to Russia's ego. If only Russian president makes such decision [to withdraw Black Sea Fleet], he would not be a president in the next day", explained Kuchma.

At the same time he wondered that the prolongation agreement of Sevastopol naval base was connected with gas prices. As for him, such scheme leads to countertrade; it would be better that Ukraine offer market price for gas transit and market price for the base lease, too. The agreement was signed hastily, concluded Kuchma.

Speaking of proposal to integrate Gazprom and Naftogaz, the ex-president supported the idea of energetic cooperation, although unalterably opposed to integration of those two companies because of titanic difference in their prices.

As it was reported, Russia and Ukraine agreed that Moscow would allow significant gas discounting in exchange for Kiev's approval to prolong lease term of Russia's Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol till 2042.

This document drew scathing criticism from Ukrainian opposition which considers these agreements a backdown of national interests.