The Azov and Black Sea basins fall within Russia's zone of strategic interest, and questions regarding navigation through the Black Sea straits should be settled according to international law.
The President signed a document on establishing a base for the Black Sea Fleet at Novorossiisk, and also approved a common work program for ministries and agencies on resolving issues regarding Russia's military and diplomatic presence in the Azov-Black Sea region.
Mr Putin discussed a final regulation of the legal status of the Azov Sea and the Kerch Straits at a meeting with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma that took place on Biryuchy Island in the Azov Sea.