The Ukrainian opposition will not be able...

The lease agreement, signed on Wednesday, extends Russian naval presence in the Crimean port of Sevastopol for 25 years after the current lease expires in 2017, and may be further extended by another five years. In exchange, Ukraine is to receive a 30% cut in Russian gas prices.

The Ukrainian opposition earlier said any prolongation of Russian military presence in the country would require amendments to the Constitution and a national referendum. It said incumbent President Viktor Yanukovych should be impeached for signing an unconstitutional agreement.

Mykola Tomenko, deputy speaker of parliament and a leader of the opposition party, Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, said on Wednesday Article 17 of the Constitution forbids the deployment of foreign military bases on Ukrainian soil.

However, section XV says existing military bases on Ukrainian territory can be used by foreign troops under a lease agreement ratified by the Ukrainian Supreme Rada (parliament) if they are defined

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