quid pro quo?

Via the FT:

Russia will build a new base for its Black Sea fleet at the port of Ochamchire in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, Itar Tass, the Russian news agency, reported an unnamed Russian navy official as saying yesterday.

Work would begin on the project this year, the official added. The announcement is likely to raise hackles in Georgia, which lost control of Abkhazia after a short war with Russia last August.

Russia currently bases its Black Sea fleet at Sevastopol, which is leased from Kiev. But Ukraine threatened last August not to renew the lease on its expiry in 2017.

Russia seeks to weaken Ukraine at the yearly gas negotiating table, and solidify the cleave between Georgia and Abkhazia. We will look the other way.