Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law denouncing the 2003 treaty between Russia and Ukraine on cooperating in using the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

The treaty originally stipulated that the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait were internal waters of Russia and Ukraine. Vessels from both sides were allowed to navigate the Kerch Strait freely.

The agreement, signed on December 24, 2003, in Kerch, entered into force in April 2004, Xinhua news agency reported.

Russia's State Duma, or the lower house of parliament, denounced the agreement on June 1 after the Russian President had submitted a bill on May 24. Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, approved the same bill on June 7.

Ukraine denounced the agreement in February.