Russian Foreign Ministry regrets Ukraine's intentions to introduce visa regulations
MOSCOW. March 20 (Interfax) - The intention to introduce visa regulations that Ukraine has announced is surprising and regrettable, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
"Ukraine's intentions can not cause anything but surprise and regret, because as a result of such actions by Kyiv, contacts between millions of citizens of the two states and border, inter-regional and humanitarian ties will be significantly complicated," the document said.
"We have not received an official notification from Ukraine yet," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "It appears that it concerns Ukraine's wish to cease the agreement between the Russian government and the Ukrainian government on the visa-free travel of Russians and Ukrainians of January 16, 1997 and a protocol on amending the named 1997 agreements of October 30, 2004," the statement said.
Russia "has studied the stance" of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council regarding the introduction to visa regulations between Russia and Ukraine, the document said.
It has been reported that on March 19 the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry was ordered to introduce visa regulations with Russia following a Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council meeting.
There is no need to hurry to introduce visa regulations with Russia and transfer to travel with international passports to Russia, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said on Thursday.
