Russia plans to rearm its Black Sea Fleet and is seeking talks with Ukraine on customs aspects of planned deliveries of new weapons to the naval force, Ukraine's defense minister said on Saturday.
The minister, Pavlo Lebedev, who was speaking at a briefing at the Desna military training center in Chernihiv region, said customs formalities are outside the jurisdiction of his ministry, and that therefore the ministry would pass documents concerning the planned arms deliveries to the Tax and Income Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Cabinet’s top tier.
“Russia’s desire is understandable – technology is moving ahead, and it’s fair [for Russia] to want to rearm its fleet. So it is necessary to solve all the problems at legislative level, taking the interests of Ukraine as a non-aligned country into account,” Lebedev said.
The ministed added that Ukraine and Russia are studying joint housing construction in Crimea for military men of the two countries.
“The social issue of joint participation in housing construction for Ukrainian and Russian military men, first of all, on the territory of military housing areas, which military men left, was discussed,” he said, commenting on the results of his meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu.
The minister said that there are many vacant military housing areas in Crime and Sevastopol, and houses should be built there.
Lebedev added that this could be done via the attraction of private investment. The minister said during the meeting he raised the issue of pensions for military men.
“Ukraine has raised the issue that if Russian military men who were transferred to the reserve and have the desire to live in Ukraine, thyme have a chance to receive pensions on the territory of Ukraine,” he said.
Lebedev noted that the issue is a procedural one and Russia has similar agreements with Germany, Israel and other countries.
“For Ukraine this is a chance to attract funds to Ukraine. The money will be left in the country and will develop infrastructure and other projects in Ukraine. The main thing is that people will live comfortly and they will not have to go to Russia once in three months,” he said.
