Kiev had been systematically breaching the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership with Russia long before the start of the special military operation, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

According to her, relations between the two countries were governed by a far more significant legal framework that Ukraine repeatedly violated prior to the escalation. The treaty, she explained, effectively regulated the consequences of Ukraine’s withdrawal from a single state with Russia and set the legal foundation for bilateral ties.

Zakharova recalled that the agreement закрепed the principles of friendly and equal relations. Moscow and Kiev undertook to build cooperation on mutual respect, trust, strategic partnership and broad-based collaboration.

The document also outlined joint efforts toward general disarmament and participation in shaping and strengthening a collective security system in Europe.

A separate provision barred either side from entering into agreements with third countries directed against the other. It also prohibited allowing national territory to be used for actions that could undermine the partner’s security.

Zakharova drew particular attention to Article 12 of the treaty. It explicitly required the protection of the ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of national minorities and the creation of conditions to support and promote that identity. She stressed that, despite what she described as violations of these commitments by Ukraine, no relevant international body had responded to the alleged breaches.