Putin recalled that, according to the agreement concluded, the Russian base in Sevastopol will be in place until 2017.
Article 14 of the Ukrainian Constitution says that there should be no foreign contingent or military bases in the republic on permanent footing, Putin said.
Simultaneously, the Russian president stressed, another article of the Ukrainian Constitution says that, "in transitional positions of the country, bases existing at the current moment may function on the Ukrainian territory provisionally in keeping with the international agreements ratified by the Supreme Rada of Ukraine".
"Our agreement has been ratified by the Rada", Putin recalled.
Vladimir Putin deems possible unfolding, within the framework of the common economic environment, common defence of the countries members of the organisation.
"Everything is possible. We have within the CIS the Collective Security Treaty Organisation", the Russian president said, answering the question whether or not he thinks possible creation of common defence within the CSTO.
Meanwhile, no political ends were in view in creating the Common Economic Environment Organisation, the Russian head of state said. "We pursue only economic goals within the framework of the common economic environment", the Russian president said.
The common economic environment is made up of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. The members of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation are Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tajikistan, Armenia.
