Russia doesn't want to speed up negotiations about Black Sea Fleet, according to Ukrainian diplomat's statement

"My impression was that Russia has no intention of speeding up the process," Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko told reporters in Kiev after returning from talks Thursday in Moscow. He said the talks brought no significant progress.

Photo: Russia doesn't want to speed up negotiations about Black Sea Fleet, according to Ukrainian diplomat's statement

Russia doesn't want to speed up negotiations about Black Sea Fleet, according to Ukrainian diplomat's statement

Ukraine has demanded that Russia surrender lighthouses and other property along the Crimean coast that Ukraine claims is not part of the fleet agreement.

Ukraine demanded an inventory, but Russia urged discussions talk first, Ohryzko said.

The proposal is a key part of Ukraine's efforts to review a 1997 agreement that allowed the Russian navy to remain in the Crimean port of Sevastopol until 2017, the AP reports.

Moscow says it is entitled to use the lighthouses, and it protested vociferously when Ukraine took over a lighthouse in the port of Yalta in January.

Ukraine has also suggested that the annual rent it charges the Russian navy to lease the port in Sevastopol should be increased after Russia raised the price for natural gas supplies to Ukraine this year. Russia currently pays US$93 million (Ђ74 million) under a 1997 agreement.

Earlier this year, Ukrainian officials suggested that the price should reflect market rates, warning it could increase up to 20 times to US$1.8 billion (Ђ1.4 billion). Russia insisted that Ukraine does not have the right to demand a rent hike.

Ukraine's ties with Moscow have been increasingly tense under Western-leaning President Viktor Yushchenko, who has tried to shake off Russian influence since coming to power early last year.