Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree Wednesday stating that Russia was required to notify the Ukrainian authorities of all movements by naval vessels and aircraft from its Crimea-based Black Sea Fleet.
"In any case, we have discussed with [Russian Foreign Minister] Sergei Lavrov the need to hold Russian-Ukrainian consultations, including a meeting of the sub-commission on the Black Sea Fleet, so that new regulations can be introduced in a calm manner," the pro-Yushchenko speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk said.
According to the decree, Russia must seek permission from Kiev for the movement of its warships and aircraft beyond Ukrainian borders. Permission is to be sought no later than 72 hours before any planned maneuvers.
The speaker also lamented an absence of restrictions on the Russian fleet's involvement in military conflicts. "Unfortunately, the agreement on the Black Sea Fleet lacks a whole number of provisions, including those that would concern the ships' involvement in conflicts," Yatsenyuk said.
Ships from Russia's Black Sea Fleet patrolled the waters off the Georgian coast during Russia's "peace enforcement" operation that began after Georgia launched an offensive in breakaway South Ossetia on August 8.
Yushchenko signed the document after returning from Tbilisi, where he took part in a mass rally in support of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili amid fighting with Russia. Both leaders have pursued pro-Western policies, seeking to join NATO and the European Union and reduce Russian influence.
Ukraine even threatened last weekend to refuse to allow the Russian vessels to return to the Sevastopol naval base. Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday that the Russian Navy had sunk a Georgian vessel transporting missile launchers.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that the decree issued by the Ukrainian president was a "new serious anti-Russian step."
Russia's Black Sea Fleet uses the Sevastopol base under agreements signed in 1997. Yushchenko announced earlier this year that Ukraine would not extend the lease beyond 2017.
The Russian General Staff says it is ready to work through all outstanding issues on the Black Sea Fleet on an intergovernmental level.
"We are elaborating the issues and we will reach a decision in the near future because this cannot continue for a long time and we should find a way out of the predicament," said Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of the General Staff.
