You're reading: Ukraine wants Ukraina missile cruiser to be finished quickly

Ukraine wants to see the completion of the construction of the Ukraina missile cruiser in the near future, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said.

"I would like to confirm Ukraine’s interest in the completion of the construction of the Ukraina missile cruiser in the near future," he told reporters after a meeting with his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to the premier, Ukraine is ready to provide the technical and expert support needed for this.

The unfinished Ukraina missile cruiser remains the property of the 61 Communards Shipyard in Mykolaiv. Its maintenance costs the government UAH 2 million per year.

In May 2010 after a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said that Russia is ready to complete the construction of the Ukraina missile cruiser. In spring 2010 a member of the Russian State Duma committee on defense, Mikhail Nenashev, said that Ukraina cruiser might be transferred to the Russian Navy.

In July Russian Navy technical experts made preliminary evaluation of the technical possibilities of finishing the construction and modernizing the electrical and military equipment of the warship. The Russian side confirmed that it was interested in further cooperation with the state-run 61 Communards Shipyard for the servicing and construction of warships for the Russian Navy.

On February 27, 2011, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdiukov said that no decision has yet been taken regarding the possible purchase by Russia of the Ukraina missile cruiser, which is being constructed at the shipyard in Mykolaiv.

"We’re waiting for acceptable proposals from the Ukrainian side," he said.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Yezhel, in turn, said that "the issue will eventually be resolved."

"I can’t bring myself to scrap this ship, which is 95 percent ready," he added.