Poroshenko signs law on foreign peacekeepers in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a bill into law on amendments to the law on the order of admission and conditions of stationing of the armed forces of other states in the territory of Ukraine, the presidential press service reported.

The law provides a legal framework for an international peacekeeping and security operation in the territory of Ukraine by broadening the justification for granting foreign troops access to the Ukrainian territory and for their stationing in the country.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the bill on amendments to the law on the order of admission and conditions of stationing of the armed forces of other states in the territory of Ukraine was adopted by the Ukrainian parliament on June 4, 2015.

According to the explanatory note, the implementation of the law will create the necessary conditions for the deployment of an international peacekeeping and security mission in Ukraine that should ensure the normalization of the situation, the restoration of the rule of law and life activity, the constitutional rights and freedoms of the residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and to facilitate the return of displaced people to their homes.

The law says that the purpose of the deployment of the armed forces of other states in the territory of Ukraine is the provision of assistance to Ukraine in the form of an international peacekeeping and security mission on the basis of the decision of the UN and/or the EU.

It is established that potential carriers of nuclear weapons and other types of mass destruction are permitted under international treaties of Ukraine for short-term accommodation in Ukraine on condition that Ukraine will monitors their stay on its territory.

The law prohibits the admission to the territory of Ukraine of the armed forces of states that have not recognized its independence and territorial integrity, or impose territorial claims, or have unleashed armed aggression against Ukraine.

Among the requirements, the law establishes the time to achieve the purpose of the stay.

It is established that the proposal on the admission of the armed forces of other states in the territory of Ukraine, including those who participate in the international peacekeeping and security mission, will be submitted to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine by agreement with other interested central executive agencies.