On December 8, 1991, Ukraine signed the Bilovezka agreement, and together with Russia and Belarus became one of the founding members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. 

Ukraine based its participation on the belief that the basic principles of this organization will be: mutual respect for the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of each member-State, the integrity and inviolability of borders, renunciation of the use of force or threat of force, and commitment to the peaceful settlement of international disputes. 

Unfortunately, recent events have shown otherwise. 

Caught in a difficult security situation, Ukraine has made every effort to engage the CIS in helping to protect the territorial integrity and inviolability of its borders and the resolution of the conflict with the Russian Federation. 

Ukraine initiated an extraordinary meeting of the Council of CIS Foreign Ministers in Kyiv. We urged all partners in the Commonwealth to endorse a political statement on the situation in  Crimea, to condemn the aggression against sovereign Ukrainian territory and to adhere to the basic principles of the Agreement establishing the CIS. 

Ukraine deeply regrets that instead of implementing the task of establishing cooperation and resolution of conflicts in the former Soviet Union, the CIS has become a tool to realize the interests of its individual members, namely, the Russian Federation. 

Especially outrageous is the support by the individual member-states of the CIS of the acts of the Russian Federation regarding the annexation of Ukrainian territory against the principles of international law. 

In view of the above, Ukraine has decided not to continue its CIS presidency in 2014.

An appropriate note will be sent to the CIS Executive Committee in the coming days. 

In light of the non-compliance by a majority of the CIS member states with fulfilling their obligations set forth in the Agreement of the CIS - the recognition and respect of the territorial integrity of each member, inviolability of borders, and cooperation in ensuring international peace and security; and because of political bias and inefficiency in the existing form of cooperation within the CIS, Ukraine reserves the right to consider whether it will continue to further participate in the activities of the Commonwealth.