KYIV. Feb 20 (Interfax) - The aggravation of the situation in Ukraine has not resulted in changes in the operating mode of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin has said.
"The Black Sea Fleet functions as usual. We don't see any problems in the conditions of the stay of our sailors in the territory of Ukraine, in Crimea," he said in an interview with Interfax answering a question whether security has been tightened at Black Sea Fleet units given the aggravation of the domestic situation in Ukraine.
He said that problems in the operations of the fleet were discussed with the Ukrainian side during his visit to Kyiv. "Today we discussed problems in advancing several bilateral agreements. We have three agreements on which we are working related to transfers and other problems. There are things that stall but this is not dramatic," Karasin said.
He added that Kyiv and Moscow are working on several draft agreements concerning the Russian naval base in Ukraine.
"We have some seven-eight draft agreements. It is important that these draft documents would be approved and we are now working precisely on that," he said.