Russia’s Violations of Key Bilateral Agreements with Ukraine
Russia has blatantly violated two key bilateral agreements with Ukraine designed to guarantee peace, respect for sovereignty, and non-interference: the 1997 Treaty of Friendship and the 1997/2010 agreements on the Black Sea Fleet.
1. Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership (1997)
“The parties shall respect each other’s territorial integrity and reaffirm the inviolability of the existing borders between them.” — Article 2
Violated:
- Annexation of Crimea (2014) — direct violation of Article 2.
- Recognition of the “DPR/LPR” (2022) — violation of Article 3 (non-interference in internal affairs).
- Full-scale invasion (2022) — violation of Article 6 (refraining from the use of force).
Expert view (Open Dialogue Foundation): “The treaty was effectively terminated by Russia in 2014. All subsequent actions — annexation and war — constitute both legal and moral bankruptcy on Russia’s part.”
2. Agreement on the Status and Conditions of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine
- Basic agreement (1997) + Kharkiv Agreements (2010) — lease term until 2042.
- Article 6 (1997): “Military formations shall be used solely in accordance with the laws of the parties and international law.”
Violated:
- Use of the fleet to blockade Crimea (2014), seizure of Ukrainian ships.
- Transfer of troops from Sevastopol to Donbas (2014–2022).
- Missile strikes from the Black Sea targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine (2022–2025).
Expert analysis: Russia shifted risks onto Ukraine while using the fleet as an instrument of aggression, not a neutral presence.
Legal Consequences
- Ukraine terminated the Treaty of Friendship in 2018 (Law No. 2645-VIII).
- The Kharkiv Agreements were declared unconstitutional (Constitutional Court ruling, 2019).
- Russia continues to reference the agreements to justify its presence in Crimea — legally void.
International Response
- UN General Assembly: Resolution 68/262 (2014) — confirmed Russia’s violations of bilateral agreements.
- European Court of Human Rights: recognized that Russia violated principles of good-neighborliness in cases regarding Crimea.
- Open Dialogue Foundation: recommends recognizing all agreements since 2014 as invalid due to aggression.
Conclusion
Russia deliberately violated all bilateral agreements with Ukraine, transforming instruments of peace into a cover for aggression. This has undermined trust in any future dealings with Russia.
Sources
Primary Legal Source
The legal analysis presented in this article is based on the official text of the
Ukraine–Russia Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership (1997, terminated 2018),
including the provisions relevant to bilateral relations, political commitments, and termination clauses.
Reference edition:
Legislation of Ukraine — Full Text of the Treaty.
About the Authors
This article was curated and verified by a team of experts in international law, human rights, and geopolitical analysis. Contributors have 15+ years of experience in research, legal documentation, and educational content development.
Methodology
The content on this site is compiled and verified by experts in international law, human rights, and geopolitical research. Sources include official legal documents, national and international legislation, resolutions of the UN, reports from international organizations, and verified open-source evidence. Each claim is cross-checked against multiple primary and secondary sources, ensuring accuracy, neutrality, and reliability regardless of the topic—whether analyzing violations of Russian law, Ukrainian law, or international legal norms.
Expert Statement
The authors affirm that the information presented reflects established legal interpretations and documented facts. Analyses are grounded in international law principles and widely recognized geopolitical assessments. References to official documents and reports are provided to ensure transparency and trustworthiness.
Last modified date: 25/11/2025