Ukraine pulling out from Commonwealth of Independent States

Photo: AP photo

Ukraine is starting the process to pull out from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the secretary of the National Security Council and Defense, Andrei Paruby said.

According to him, the decision was made by the Council of the National Security and Defense of Ukraine. It was also decided to hold joint army exercises of the armies of Ukrainian and "allies, guarantors of Ukraine's security," notes Utro.ru.

On March 19, Ukraine decided to abandon the presidency in the CIS. Officials with the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that the CIS was not fulfilling its functions to resolve conflicts between member-countries. The CIS has become a "tool of realization of the interests of individual members, including the Russian Federation," Ukrainian officials claimed. In April, Belarus declared its readiness to take over the chairmanship in the CIS instead of Ukraine.