Russia wants its Black Sea Fleet not only to guarantee security in Crimea, but also to contribute to the development of infrastructure in Sevastopol, Russia President Dmitry Medvedev has said.
"Sevastopol is a special city, and, of course, our base, which is located in Sevastopol, and the decision to prolong its stay, which we have signed, are very important to us. So, of course, we are interested that the Russian base does not only guarantee security in the region, help resolve border issues, create an appropriate moral climate of security, but also help Sevastopol resolve various social and economic problems," he said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Kharkiv on Wednesday.
Medvedev said that this was "full-scale and equal partnership" between the two countries and between certain structures, including military ones.
He said that Russia was interested in seeing that there is "a good attitude" to the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s base in Ukraine, "as before."
Medvedev also said that he would order the Russian defense minister and the commander of the Russian Navy to draw up an agreement on the participation of the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s base in the social and economic development of Sevastopol.
