You're reading: Diplomat: Extension of fleet’s presence in Crimea does not threaten Ukraine’s security

The agreement signed by the presidents of Ukraine and Russia prolonging the presence of the Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine does not threaten national security, Ukrainian diplomatic circles say.

A diplomatic source told Interfax that the signing was preceded by long and intensive talks with the Russian side.

"Ukrainian diplomats and government officials literally clawed their way to get concessions on the gas price issue," the source said.

The diplomat said that it must be understood that the agreement signed by former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko fully satisfied the Russian side and Moscow had no reasons to make concessions on the matter. "Only thanks to Kyiv’s readiness to offer a reasonable compromise formula and also thanks to a series of personal meetings between Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev the Russians were persuaded to make significant concessions in the gas sector," he said.

The source added that a powerful impetus to the development of many Ukrainian districts is being discussed thanks to the reduction the gas price.

"At the same time the extension of the term of the fleet’s presence should not be regarded as a threat to Ukraine’s national security, because the nature of relations achieved with Russia permits us to regard Russia in general as a partner, not a source of threat to the Ukrainian state," the diplomat said.