“This is a permanent threat to Ukraine’s territorial integrity because the Black Sea fleet is the outpost of the Russian state in Ukraine,” [protester Igor Derevyanko] was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. – BBC
I kind of hate the fact that I need to point this out, but historically – Crimea wasn’t even a part of Ukraine. I mean, it was part of the Kievan Rus, sure (note the “Rus” in “Kievan Rus”). Most of the people who live there have stronger ties to Russia. There’s nothing weird about that either. It’s just the way it has worked out.
Natalia A. 
Post my editorial. I dare you. No, I double dare you. I think we actually agree on this. It took me a little while to see it, but I got it in the end…
I’ll see what I can do when I’m not in excruciating pain, boss. 😉
At least the deal formalizes a time frame on when the fleet leaves Sevastopol — politically 25 years may as well be ‘infinity plus one’, but the signatures are on paper. The strange part about the deal is the part where every May ‘foreign troops’ march around downtown Kiev… how was that an issue which needed negotiating?