In a dramatic sign of improving ties, Moscow...

The documents were signed following negotiations between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych.

The lease agreement extends Russian naval presence in the port of Sevastopol for 25 years after the current lease expires in 2017, and may be further extended by another five years.

Medvedev stressed the importance of the base as key to regional security and vowed assistance in developing Sevastopol"s socio-economic infrastructure in an effort to promote public relations and improve the Russian Navy"s image.

"I will instruct the defense minister and the Black Sea Fleet commander to draft an agreement on the participation of our base in the socio-economic development of Sevastopol," Medvedev said.

Yanukovych has pledged to move Ukraine away from the pro-Western stance of former President Viktor Yushchenko, who vowed that Russia would have to look for a new main base for its Black Sea Fleet once the current deal expires

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