16:50 01.10.2014

Ukraine decides not to build bridge across Kerch Strait with Russia

2 min read
Ukraine decides not to build bridge across Kerch Strait with Russia

Ukraine has torn up its contract with Russia regarding the joint construction of a transport bridge across the Kerch Strait, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Ostap Semerak has said.

"Under the terms of this agreement, we were to send six-month diplomatic notices prior to its termination. We did. And I can say absolutely calmly that we tore up this agreement, having made this decision at a government meeting," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Semerak also said that the Cabinet of Ministers had made a respective decision immediately after its appointment in March 2014, but it had entered into force only now.

"I am confident that Russia is not our brother, distant relative, or even a friendly neighbor. And there will be no joint projects that could create a corridor of friendship until the end of the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in which Russian troops are taking part on Ukrainian territory," he added.

As reported, on June 21, 2013, Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov told Interfax-Ukraine that Russia would soon give Ukraine a detailed proposal for the construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait.

On November 19, 2013, the Cabinet of Ministers set up a government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Vilkul for participation in talks on the signing of an agreement between the governments of Ukraine and Russia on joint actions on organizing the construction of a transport bridge through the Kerch Strait. The Ukrainian government also approved the directives for the Ukrainian side. The main purpose of the delegation's participation in the talks was to agree on a draft agreement between the two governments on joint actions on organizing the construction of a transport bridge across the Kerch Strait. The draft agreement also foresaw the creation of a Ukrainian-Russian working group for the preparation of tasks, and the personal composition of the Ukrainian part of the group was also approved by the government.

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