A NEW DEAL ON THE BLACK SEA FLEET.

Russian president Yeltsin and Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma reached a new accord on the fate of the Black Sea fleet during their meeting in Sochi June 9. But as in the case of the three earlier agreements on this issue, many questions remain unresolved–including such major questions as the precise legal status of the Russian fleet, basing arrangements for the Ukrainian fleet at Sevastopol, and whether Moscow will lease or outright own its base there. Moscow officials said they were happy with the accord, Interfax reported, but Ukraine also has reason to be pleased. Kiev gave away little that it had not already agreed to, and Moscow rescheduled Ukraine’s massive energy debt yet again.

Yeltsin’s Independence Day Message: Russia is Back.