Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Ukraine to drop ‘friendship’ pact
MINSK, Belarus — The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday voted to withdraw from a wide-ranging treaty on friendship with Russia, the latest step in escalating tension between the two neighbors.
The Supreme Rada overwhelmingly supported a motion by President Petro Poroshenko not to prolong the treaty when it comes up for renewal in April. Dressed in camouflage, the president on Thursday visited an air base to announce an upcoming dispatch of troops to the Russian border.
The Pentagon said an unarmed U.S. Air Force plane with American and international observers took a special flight Thursday over Ukraine in a show of solidarity after Ukraine’s naval confrontation last month with Russia in the Black Sea.
The Pentagon called it an “extraordinary” flight under the Open Skies Treaty, which is an international accord that gives each member country the right to conduct, and the obligation to accept, unarmed military observation flights. The purpose to is promote transparency in military activities.
Normally these flights are arranged well in advance. But the treaty also permits “extraordinary,” or extra, flights if two participating members agree. In this case, the Ukrainian military requested a flight and the U.S. agreed to conduct it over an uncontested portion of Ukraine territory, according to Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman.
The Navy, meanwhile, is expected to sail a warship into the Black Sea later this month, a passage that American ships have done a number of times this year. The transit would be another signal of military support for Ukraine.
The U.S. has notified Turkey of the plan, which is part of the required process, U.S. officials said. It kicks off a 15day wait before the ship can move into the Black Sea. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss future ship movements.
The long-simmering conflict between Russia and Ukraine that started with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 spilled into the open on Nov. 25 when the Russian coast guard fired upon and seized three Ukrainian naval vessels and their crews. The seamen are still in Russian captivity.