The Russian ambassador to Kiev has dismissed the chances of Ukraine backing out of the deal on Russias lease of a Crimean naval base, saying such a step would convert some funds received by Ukraine into state debt.
“Denunciation of the agreement would automatically be accompanied with the conversion of funds that Russia now transfers as payments towards the future rent [of the Black Sea Fleet base], into Ukrainian state debt,” Mikhail Zurabov told journalists after Russian-Ukrainian talks in Sochi on Friday.