Ukraine cancels weapons agreement with Russia

By Ali Cura

KIEV, Ukraine (AA) - Ukraine's Cabinet on Wednesday adopted a decree canceling an agreement with Russia for the supply of weapons and military equipment.

The deal regarding the mutual supply of arms and military equipment, components and spare parts, and the provision of repairs and other military services was signed on Feb. 8, 1995.

The Ukrainian government had in August cancelled an agreement with Moscow establishing interaction in the export of military goods to third countries.

Shipment of military goods to Russia has been suspended since March 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea after an illegal independence vote. Three months later, President Petro Poroshenko fully prohibited military cooperation with Russia.

Along with the UN, the U.S. and the EU, Turkey does not recognize Crimea as Russian territory.

Since the annexation, Ukraine has been wracked by conflict in its eastern regions with Russian-backed separatists, leading to more than 10,000 deaths, according to the UN.