KIEV, Dec. 3 – The effectiveness of a friendship, cooperation and partnership agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which was automatically extended until April 1, 2019, is expiring and it is to be re-signed, President Viktor Yanukovych has said.

"A strategic partnership agreement, which was signed with Russia in 1997, is already expiring, and it is planned to re-sign, extend this agreement. There's such a procedure," he told the country's leading television channels on Monday.