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What Russia's acknowledgement on the Friendship Treaty meant
Summary
A look back at the notification over Ukraine's decision not to extend the 1997 Big Treaty with Russia.
What did it mean when Russia said it had been told that Ukraine would not renew the Russian–Ukrainian Friendship Treaty? On 26 September 2018, the question was in focus after Russia acknowledged, as reported on 25 September 2018, that it had been notified of Kyiv's decision.
The agreement, also known as the Big Treaty, was signed in 1997. It fixed the principle of strategic partnership between the two countries, recognised the inviolability of existing borders, and committed both sides to respect territorial integrity. Each side also pledged not to use its territory to harm the security of the other.
Why Kyiv chose not to extend
The decision followed the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014. Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, signed a decree not to extend the treaty on 19 September 2018, a week before the date covered here. Russia's acknowledgement of the notification therefore marked the formal passing of that decision between the two capitals.
What followed
The consequence came later: the treaty expired on 31 March 2019. As of 26 September 2018, the agreement was still in force, but the notification had set its end in motion.
