1997. Kyiv. Russian-Ukrainian Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership/"Big Treaty"
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 1 (1990s)
1997. Kyiv. Russian-Ukrainian Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership/"Big Treaty"
"Federal President Boris Yeltsin" by Commons: RIA Novosti/Sergey Guneev under CC BY-SA 3.0
The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership, also known as the Big Treaty, was signed by the presidents of Russia and Ukraine on May 31, 1997. The treaty was intended to improve relations between the two countries and resolve longstanding disputes, including issues related to borders, the Black Sea Fleet, and economic cooperation.
Under the treaty, Russia recognized Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and pledged to respect Ukraine's independence and non-aligned status. The two countries agreed to respect each other's borders and to settle any disputes peacefully. They also agreed to cooperate in a number of areas, including security, defense, energy, and the economy.
The treaty addressed the status of the Black Sea Fleet, which had been a point of contention between Russia and Ukraine since Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The treaty provided for the division of the fleet and the creation of a joint command for the Black Sea Fleet. It also set out the terms for the lease of naval facilities in Sevastopol, Ukraine to Russia.
The signing of the treaty was seen as a positive development in Russia-Ukraine relations and was welcomed by the international community. However, the treaty did not resolve all of the issues between the two countries, and tensions would continue to simmer, particularly over Ukraine's relations with the West and its desire to join NATO.
Despite the signing of the treaty, relations between Russia and Ukraine would deteriorate in the years that followed, culminating in Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on March 22, 2023
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Sources for 1997. Kyiv. Russian-Ukrainian Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership/"Big Treaty":
Setting Past Aside, Russia and Ukraine Sign Friendship Treaty - The New York Times June 1, 1997