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Ukraine, Russia Approve Contentious Black Sea Deal

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Last updated (GMT/UTC): 27.04.2010 12:00

WATCH: Opposition lawmakers throw eggs and smoke bombs inside Ukraine's parliament as the chamber approves a deal allowing the Russian Navy to extend its stay in the port of Sevastopol until 2042. (Reuters video)

Ukraine's parliament erupted in chaos today as lawmakers approved a bitterly controversial deal allowing the Russian Navy to extend its stay in Ukraine until 2042.

Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russia's Duma ratified the 25-year extension to the Russian Black Sea Fleet's base in Crimea in a parallel session less than an hour later.

In Kyiv, scuffles broke out and opposition deputies hurled eggs at parliament speaker Volodymr Lytvyn, who took shelter under umbrellas. Smoke bombs filled the chamber with a thick white fog, setting off alarms and forcing deputies to cover their faces.

On the strength of votes from President Viktor Yanukovych's coalition, 236 Ukrainian lawmakers voted to ratify the agreement -- 10 more than the required minimum of 226 votes for the deal to pass.

Lytvyn announced the ratification amid whistling and applause.

Critics, led by Yanukovych's Western-leaning predecessor, Viktor Yushchenko, and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, regard the Russian base as a hostile presence on Ukrainian soil and had pushed for its removal when the existing lease runs out in 2017.

Thousands of opposition protesters rallied outside the parliament building today to denounce the deal, signed by Yanukovych and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on April 21. In return for the extension, Moscow pledged to cut by 30 percent the price cash-strapped Ukraine pays for Russian natural gas.

WATCH: Opposition protesters face off against police outside the parliament building.

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Speaking at today's rally, Tymoshenko said today would "go down as a black page" in Ukraine's history. She called for a mass opposition protest outside parliament on May 11 to force early elections and oust Yanukovych.

"Our unification can bring about a new majority in parliament and a new president in Ukraine -- not in five years, not in three, not even in two, but relatively quickly," she said.

She also called for the creation of a special "committee to save Ukraine" in parliament, universities, and workplaces across the country.

"The committee to save Ukraine can have only one slogan: There is no price on Crimean land," she said. "Ukraine is not for sale. There is no price on our strategic areas of development. Ukraine is not for sale!"

Speaking on a visit to Norway today, Medvedev hailed the Ukrainian vote as a victory for common sense.

"I am very happy about it," he said. "It shows that common sense has prevailed and Ukraine's strategic interests have also prevailed over emotions of the moment, which were manifested in the form of various noisy effects and other ways of demonstrating one's convictions."

Russian military ships in the Black Sea (file photo)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, speaking after arriving overnight in Kyiv, said he was "surprised" by the extent of the opposition to the deal, saying the former government had not objected to extending the lease.

In the Russian vote, 410 deputies in the 450-seat Duma supported the accord.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet has been based in Crimea since the reign of Catherine the Great in the 18th century. But when Ukraine gained independence following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Moscow agreed to withdraw the fleet in 2017.

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service contributed to this report, with agency material

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Comment Sorting

Comments

by: elmer

April 27, 2010 13:39

Yanuconvict and his Donbass Mafia political machine are in the process of "working effectively" - to give Ukraine back to the sovok union.

Most little rooskie sovok zombies don't know that Catherine the Great was German (Prussian). They were fed a constant diet of sovok propaganda which simply ignored that important. fact. Today, 20 years after the fall of the sovok union, the pervasive sovok brainwashing still has its effect.

Russia is not claiming just a military base - it claims Sevastopol and Crimea as "part of Russia." If Russia wasn't hell-bent on re-creating the sovok union, it would not be looking for russified brain dead sovok zombies like Yanuconvict and his Party of Regions Donbass Mafia, who willingly do Putler's bidding.

In Response

by: David Hernández from: Spain

April 28, 2010 09:59

I don't know whether Catherine the Great's origins are particularly relevant here. What I know is that this lease extension runs counter to Ukraine's national interests, and even Yanukovich is aware of it. I wonder what good old (and also kleptocrat, criminal) Leonid Danilovich would have done in his place.

In Response

by: elmer

April 28, 2010 13:57

David Hernandez from Spain, ah, but Catherine the Great's origins are particularly relevant in a way you might not know.

The sovoks distorted history and literally brainwashed the population so pervasively with their propaganda that even today, there are literally russified brain dead sovok zombies who still believe they live and roosha/the sovok union, rather than in Ukraine.

Spain doesn't have that problem. But the minute you look at the former sovok republics and satellites, you immediately recognize large segments of the population who respond to key words in the sovok lexicon - like 'fascist", for example.

Just look at the comments under this article, and see if you can spot the sovok relics, who proclaim Russia's "strength" and who tout the "war" against "fascists" - Ukrainian and otherwise.

In that context, sovok union citizens were not taught about Catherine the Great. If they had been, along with other facts, they would know that Russia's "claim" on Crimea, the Ukrainian city of Odessa, and indeed on other parts of Ukraine are not quite what the sovok propaganda proclaimed it to be.

On top of that, this is an oligarch deal. Ukrainian residential consumers will not see a reduction in prices. Instead, it is the heavy industrial users in the Donbass Region - individual oligarchs like Dmytro Firtash, of RosUkrEnergo fame, who will see a benefit - to their businesses.

The gas contract also requires an increase in volumes. The rooskies are just touting price - but not the other aspects of the deal, such as increased volumes, and the sale of Ukrainian assets to Russian oligarchs.

In other words, there are all sorts of side deals here which are not being reported.

This is energy politics, and it is apparently worth it to Russia to increase its budget deficit to exercise political influence in Ukraine.

Gazprom, which is owned 51% by the Russian government, is simply not going to pay export duties to the Russian government for the Ukrainian gas - which is where the supposed 30% discount on the gas price comes from.

That, in turn, causes lower revenues to the Russian government, and therefore an increase in Russia's deficit.

Ukraine should be implementing energy independence instead of selling Ukraine for the benefit of a few oligarchs.

I hpe that helps.

by: Taras from: Australia

April 28, 2010 02:42

Elmer my friend you have, you have summarised the situation most eloquently. Banditkovych is selling out to anyone who wants to buy us out and no doubt amassing a small fortune.
Nevertheless we have not succumbed over the ages and we will rise again. SLAVA Nam.

by: UKR FAN from: Canada

April 28, 2010 04:43

How did Ukraine allow the Russian puppet to win the election in the first place? Are the Russian tanks next?
How can the Ukranians think that a failed state can help them to prosper? The Ukranians who voted for Yanukovych must have had their blinkers on (like on a horse).

by: Jack from: Australia

April 28, 2010 05:33

The protesters should be sent to serve in the Russian navy, so they can stage a sea battle against gas discounts at least till they freeze to death in the winter time, cause they can't pay for it by decent work rather than stealing and corruption.
I bet, they insisted Russians give them the tear gas to throw it back at them at the discount rate as well.
But, don't worry proud Ukrainians - the generous West will sure help you with trillions of dollars of free handouts, cause the West loves democracy as long as it works according to their plan, of course.

by: Orhan Ertugruloglu from: The Netherlands

April 28, 2010 05:35

After the collapse of the Soviet union Russia from territorial aspect became smaller than ever since Peter the Great era . Especially by the independence of the Ukraine which was called by Russia as small Russia, the territorial shrinkage is rather incredible. The independence of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and the secessionist activities among the nationalities in the Caucasus like Chechenia and Dagestan threaten Russia’s imperial image in the Black Sea region
In this power play the trump card is Crimea. Because Sevastapol is a very important ice-free naval base for Moscow in Europe.
Thanks to recent Russian efforts the economies of Russia and Ukraine are closely interwoven.
The row over the price and distribution for Russian natural gas to Europe is a manifestation of this interdependence. The political tensions in Kyiv is also an extension of this interdependence. National identity question between the west and east Ukraine should be seen within this framework.
Now in Ukraine, president Yanukovych is the successor of the western oriented Victor Yuschenko. He is following a more eastern oriented course. Within this context the Russian President Medvedev and Yanukovych have signed an unprecedented deal on April 22 in the eastern Ukranian border city Kharkiv. Under the deal Ukraine will obtain cheap energy in exchange of allowing Russia to keep its navy in Ukraine another 25 years after 2017. In addition to that, in order to renew the old and rusty natural gas distribution lines both countries will set up a joint consortium. To prevent a further misunderstanding , in contrast to his predecessor, Yanukovych promised in Kharkiv that his country will never be a member of NATO.
This promise should not be taken as a sign that he turned away from the west. Just the contrary. Yanukovych sees Ukraine as a bridge between Russia and Europe.
Kremlin shares Yanukovych’s vision. The political leadership in Kremlin realizes the importance of Europe as a market for Russian natural gas. Plus since there is no common European energy policy, Russia has more space to maneuver and exert pressure on EU -US relations.
The idea that one day Black Sea will become the internal waters of NATO has always been the biggest nightmare of Imperial Russia. Therefore Russia fought a little war in the August 2008 with Georgia.
In Ukraine, which is considered as Russia’s backyard, Russia restored her sphere of influence through economic means. Unfortunately EU and NATO can’t do much against these developments. But they are closely following the events. Not only because of the fact that Russia has disturbed the balance of power to her favor in the region , but also those developments evoked unpredictable political tensions in Ukraine and the Caucasus.

by: Ivan from: Sofia

April 28, 2010 06:53

Crimea has always been Russian until the Soviet presidium donated it to the Ukrainian SSR in February 1954. Gifts are known to have been taken back. Read your history before you write such a biased article full of contempt for Russia. It only shows the authors' ignorance. Instead, be happy that Russia is not taking over the whole Crimea, because don't tell me that it can't. And the Americans can only sit and watch it happening. So be quiet, you fascist pigs.

In Response

by: Andrew from: Tbilisi

April 28, 2010 16:53

Well Ivan, "always" is a very ong time.

Actually the Crimea was invaded and occupied by Russia in the 18th century.

Russia conducted many purges against the native Crimean Tartars, and treated them so badly that by 1854 they treated the British, French, and Turks as liberators during the Crimean war.

During WW2 the Russians deported the Crimean Tartars during one of their periodic bouts of genocidal mania.

In reality the Crimea belongs to the Tartars.

Interestingly enough they voted for Timoshenko during the elections.

They know who the racist genocidal maniacs in the room are.

As usual it is the Russians.

In Response

by: Andrew from: Tbilisi

April 29, 2010 05:13

Now Ivan, one should not throw names like "fascist pigs" around.

As I recall, in WW1 Bulgaria was on the side of Imperial Germany, and in WW2 was on the side of Nazi Germany.

That would make you the "fascist pig" would it not?

by: elmer

April 28, 2010 15:19

I would like to recommend the following excellent analysis of the gas-for-fleet plus assorted side deals barter agreement:

http://www.jamestown.org/programs/edm/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=36310&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=27&cHash=8f47f804bf

by: Zoltan from: Hungary

April 28, 2010 17:04

I don't understand the problem of nationalist Ukrainians.

The Russian fleet have been in Sevastopol for decades even long after the independence of Ukraine.

And what kind of problem did they cause? Who do they disturbe? Who cares about if that fleet remains there for a few more years?

Instead of this theatrical show of the current opposition Ukraine should focus on rebuilding its touristic infrastructure on the Crimea. It is a wonderful land but infrastructure is in a poor state.

With the development of the tourism sector Crimea could become the economic powerhouse of Ukraine.

Look at the Bulgarian, Croatian or Tunisian example. These are countries who live from income provided by tourism.

But now in Europe nobody talks about going to Crimea for holiday. Moreover I guess that majority of Europeans do not even know that Crimea is such a wonderful place.

So Ukraine should attract investors to develope tourist industry in Crimea. Privatization can bring miracles. Like the Bukovel ski resort in the Carpathians. I like that place as it meets European stadards.

In Response

by: Andrew from: Tbilisi

April 29, 2010 11:01

Yes Zoltan, I did not think you would understand.

The Russian fleet apparently greatly upsets the Crimean Tartars, and many non Russian Ukrainians because of what it represents.

Then there is the constant harping from senior Russian military and political figures that Ukraine is not a real country, and will soon come under the (dubious) protection of "big brother" Russia

As for tourism to the Crimea, yes, but complicated by the fact that the multitude of sites of historic interest are buried under Russian military installations, and that the Russian navy in particular is less than welcoming to tourists in what used to be closed military bases such as Sebastopol.

In Response

by: Taras from: Australia

April 29, 2010 13:31

Zoltan, you make a good point, the real issue is that Ukraine suffers from extremely bad governance. There are many areas where Ukraine could develop their economy. It is easy to cry in your milk (an old soviet custom which does not require remedial action) but the energy would be better spent taking positive action (sadly this has been drummed out of the national psyche by decades of terror and violence).
Ukraine is sitting on a gold mine of potential tourist attractions, from the Black Sea, to mountain resorts, health spas, wilderness parks, eco tourism. etc etc, however this requires investment in infrastructure which the government is not capable of organising and the oligarcs are more interested in buying football clubs in England than investing in their own people.
We can already see how hard it is to organise construction of infrastructure for the forthcoming UEFA cup tournament; those in charge are too interested in stealing the funds and the government is powerless to enforce action. If the government cannot implement a preorganised event supported by the EU, what hope is there self organised policy.

In Response

by: Alex from: Ireland

April 29, 2010 14:01

I agree with Zoltan. Who cares about Russian navy in Crimea? They have been there for a long time, and nothing dramatic has happened since to Ukrainian statehood and independence. Russian navy (and, indeed, the rest of the Russian army) is in dire straights at the moment lacking financial resources, etc. - so, it can hardly 'invade' Ukraine in some form or shape.

Instead, Ukrainian political elites (both ruling and in opposition) should concentrate on real matters - like fighting corruption, oligarchs, and providing employment and social protection to Ukrainians. Only by doing so and achieving economic prosperity Ukraine can actually become independent. All these protests and scenes in the parliament are just DUST that is so skilfully used by Ukrainian so-called 'politicians' in order to divert the public's attention from the real stuff - huge unemployment, economic recession and massive budget deficits.