Ukraine’s government decided on Wednesday to terminate its agreement with Russia for construction of a transport corridor to Crimea via the Black Sea’s Kerch Strait.
Ostap Semerak, a senior minister, told a meeting of the cabinet: “According to the provisions of this agreement, we had to notify Russia through diplomatic channels six months prior to the withdrawal. We did it, and now we have revoked the agreement at a government meeting.”
Ukraine and Russia agreed to build a bridge linking southern Russia's Krasnodar region with the Black Sea peninsula in April 2010. After Crimea joined Russia in mid-March, the Russian government decided to construct the transport corridor on its own.
The project worth $5.9 billion is due to be completed by 2018. It is expected to include a road with four lanes of traffic and a two-track railway. The length of the crossing is estimated at about 19 kilometres (11.8 miles). Federal Road Agency (Rosavtodor) is responsible for the project's implementation.
The Kerch Strait links the Black and Azov Seas and separates the eastern end of Crimea from the Russian territory. The body of water, about 4.5 km (3 miles) wide, can now be crossed by ferry.