Time has come to start talks on withdrawal of Russia's Black Sea fleet

“The subject of beginning talks on future withdrawal of Russian Black Sea fleet from the Ukrainian territory should be put on the agenda of our bilateral relations. We should start discussing this issue, if we want to be honest in our relations with each other,” he said.

President also explained that it is a very complicated matter as there are more than 100 vessels to be withdrawn and substantial infrastructural changes to be made. “For us to make the redeployment, foreseen in active agreement, we must have a lot of spare time beforehand,” he explained.

In addition Yushchenko reminded that Ukrainian constitution prohibits presence of foreign military bases at the Ukrainian territory. “President is the guarantor of the Constitution and I am obliged to bring up these things,” said Yushchenko.