The Treaty of Friendship Cooperation and partnership between Russia and Ukraine expires on Sunday, exactly 20 years after it came into force the treaty committed both countries to respect each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. It was to be renewed automatically every 10 years unless one party advised the other of its intention to end it. Last September Kiev informed Moscow that the agreement will not be renewed following their dispute of Crimea in 2014. Kiev said a decision was part of its strategy towards breaking with a colonial past and reorienting towards Europe. Russia slammed Ukraine in response.