The [[1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances]] was signed by then-Ukrainian President [[Leonid Kuchma]], [[Bill Clinton]], [[Boris Yeltsin]], and [[John Major]]. The agreement required that the signatories “respect the independence and [[sovereignty]] and the existing borders of Ukraine” and “refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine.”<ref>http://www.cfr.org/arms-control-disarmament-and-nonproliferation/budapest-memorandums-security-assurances-1994/p32484</ref> Under the agreement, Russia agreed that Crimea was a part of Ukraine. However, Russia and Crimea also signed a lease allowing Russia to retain existing naval bases for a finite time period. | The [[1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances]] was signed by then-Ukrainian President [[Leonid Kuchma]], [[Bill Clinton]], [[Boris Yeltsin]], and [[John Major]]. The agreement required that the signatories “respect the independence and [[sovereignty]] and the existing borders of Ukraine” and “refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine.”<ref>http://www.cfr.org/arms-control-disarmament-and-nonproliferation/budapest-memorandums-security-assurances-1994/p32484</ref> Under the agreement, Russia agreed that Crimea was a part of Ukraine. However, Russia and Crimea also signed a lease allowing Russia to retain existing naval bases for a finite time period. |