Ukraine's parliament has voted not to prolong the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. The bill to this effect was supported by 277 MPs while 20 MPs voted against it.
The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was signed by then Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and his Russian counterpart Boris Yeltsin on 31 May 1997.
It describes the principle of strategic partnership, the recognition of the inviolability of existing borders, respect for territorial integrity and mutual commitment not to use its territory to harm the security of each other. It automatically renews on each 10th anniversary of its signing, unless one party advises the other of its intention to end the treaty.