(8 Jun 1995) Russian/Nat
Russian President Boris Yeltsin and his Ukrainian counterpart Leonid Kuchma meet in the Black Sea resort of Sochi Friday to decide the fate of the Black Sea Fleet.
The former jewel in the crown of the Soviet navy has been a major bone of contention in relations between Russia and Ukraine since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Before recent talks broke down, the two sides had agreed that over 80 percent of the fleet's 833 vessels would be turned over to Russia.
But the Russians and Ukrainians cannot agree where the vessels will be based.
SOUNDBITE: (In Russian)
"No, it's very important. I am a Ukrainian citizen and therefore I will serve Ukraine."
SUPER CAPTION: Aleksei Nikonov - Ukrainian sailor
Ukraine has offered Russia the use of the two largest ports but Russia has refused and doesn't want Ukrainian ships to be based in the Crimea.
SOUNDBITE: (In Russian)
"I don't understand at all what we mean by the word friendship. If
it means a friendship when two partners cannot exist side by side, I
find it astonishing."
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Bezkorovainy - Commander Ukraine Navy
For months, Boris Yeltsin has put off making an official visit to Ukraine and has repeatedly delayed signing a friendship and cooperation treaty with Kiev, making it conditional to settling the dispute over the fleet.
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