You're reading: Lavrov: Russia, Ukraine reach understanding over Azov-Kerch settlement

Russia and Ukraine have reached an understanding on settling the Azov-Kerch issue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"Today we discussed this topic in light of the understanding already reached on how to resolve this problem," he told a press conference held jointly with his Ukrainian counterpart Kostiantyn Hryschenko in Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday.

"This understanding must be confirmed in our capitals before it is put on a legal paper, which I hope will dot all the i’s. So be patient. I think we shall resolve this problem in the very near future," the Russian minister added.

Ukraine has built its argument on the fact that there was an administrative border in the Strait of Kerch between Russia and Ukraine when they were Soviet republics. In 1999, Kyiv unilaterally established the so-called national border protection line in the Strait.

Russia believes that during the Soviet era there were no administrative borders between the Soviet republics in domestic waters.

Therefore, there were no legitimate Union- or republic-level documents that would establish a demarcation line in the Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch.

Therefore, Russia cannot recognize the "national border protection line" established by Ukraine in these waters.

Moscow is relying on the provisions of the 2003 Agreement regarding cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch, whereby these waters are historically the internal waters of both Russia and Ukraine.