Ukrainian Ambassador to Russia Volodymyr Yelchenko has predicted that Kyiv and Moscow will soon sign an agreement on the delimitation of their maritime border.

"After a long negotiation process, the parties have agreed to sign a bilateral agreement that would resolve these issues," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

Yelchenko noted that on July 12 this year the presidents of Ukraine and Russia made a joint statement concerning the delimitation of the maritime border in the Azov and Black Seas and the Kerch Strait, which opened a new stage in the negotiation process and helped in its substantial revitalization.

Yelchenko said that the sides were currently continuing talks in the context of the implementation of the provisions of the joint statement.

"In my opinion, we cannot be in a hurry here. I'm confident that the impetus granted by the presidents of Ukraine and Russia will in the short term lead to the completion of the process of the delimitation of maritime areas and the signing of a respective agreement," he said.

As reported, on July 12, 2012, the presidents of Ukraine and Russia announced the completion of talks on the delimitation of the maritime border. However, the sides declined to disclose the nature of the agreements reached on this matter.

The maritime border between Ukraine and Russian is 321 km long.