KYIV. Sep 25 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov rules out the extension of the lease agreement with Russia that would enable its Black Sea Fleet to keep its base in Sevastopol, Crimea, until 2017.
"The Defense Ministry does not discuss laws but implements them. And they say 2017. When it comes, Ukraine will have no foreign military bases on its territory and we will be able to start our history anew," Yekhanurov told reporters in Kyiv on Thursday.
Asked about the possible extension of the lease, he said that "this issue is not even being discussed".
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced that Russia could present the Ukrainian side with a package of mutually rewarding offers which would allow the Black Sea Fleet to remain in Sevastopol after 2017.
"We would like the Black Sea to stay in Sevastopol after the current lease agreement with Ukraine expires in 2017 and can offer a set of mutually rewarding proposals concerning the lease pay, the development of social infrastructure and cooperation in the defense industry, ship building and other spheres," the Russian minister said.