Kyiv: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that Kyiv has terminated 116 agreements with Russia, Belarus, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

According to Anadolu Agency, Sybiha made the announcement on Thursday, highlighting that Ukraine's legal and treaty framework must align with the realities of war and the new security architecture on the European continent. The decision to terminate these agreements was taken by Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday. These agreements were concluded within the CIS framework and directly with Russia and Belarus.

Sybiha elaborated that the resolution involves terminating 25 agreements, denouncing 3, and withdrawing from 88 international treaties. Specifically, 5 agreements are with Russia, 23 with Belarus, 87 within the CIS framework, and one is a trilateral agreement between Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. The move is seen as a crucial step in aligning Ukraine's legal framework regarding bilateral and multilateral relations with these nations to the current geopolitical context.

The Ukrainian minister emphasized his commitment to eliminating any elements that might weaken Ukraine, severing ties with the aggressor state, and establishing a robust, strategic defense line for the free world along Ukraine's eastern border. This initiative is part of a broader effort to redefine Kyiv's role in the new security landscape of Europe.

The CIS was formed in 1991 after the Soviet Union's dissolution to foster cooperation among former Soviet states in economic, political, and security matters. Its members include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with Turkmenistan holding associate membership. Moldova stopped participating in CIS meetings in 2022.

Ukraine, although a founding state of the CIS, never ratified its charter and thus was never a full member. Kyiv ceased its participation in CIS statutory bodies in 2018.