Everybody looked forward to his visit and the latter was promoted like an eight wonder. It was constantly on the air and front pages. The whole thing reminded one of Soviet publicity campaigns during visits and meetings of the Soviet Communist Party General Secretary, except that no one expected any miracles at the time. In the twilight of his political career Bill Clinton included Ukraine in the farewell tour overseas, causing an avalanche of praise. Probably the last political superstar on the world scale did not arrive in Kyiv empty- handed. The United States will give Ukraine money to help close Chornobyl and finish the construction of two nuclear power units to make up for the lost capacities. Prior to Mr. Clinton’s visit, charges were finally pressed against ex- Premier Pavlo Lazarenko: money- laundering. Hardly a coincidence. As usual, the good old Uncle Sam promises he will do his best to help Ukraine with her traditionally complex relationships with the IMF. And there was a nice award for the Ukrainian public, as far from every visiting president of a friendly partner country addresses a special message to the people, one delivered personally on a major square of the capital. Mr. Clinton’s personal charm must help retain the outer gloss of what the politician describe as strategic partnership.
Another outstanding aspect is that Washington considers Kyiv really important; half a day of talks with Leonid Kuchma and then addressing the Ukrainian people — after more than two days of the EU- US summit and Moscow weekend. It was clear from the outset that Bill Clinton would not receive any unpleasant surprises from his partners in Kyiv or have to state afterward that the once again the top- level talks gave no results (as was the case with Lisbon and Moscow when dealing with US-European trade and Washington’s insistent desire to build a new anti-missile defense system (Star Wars-II). Also obvious is the reason for Washington’s attentive approach to Kyiv: State Secretary Albright has on more than one occasion declared that the United States is perturbed by the problems of democracy in Colombia, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Ukraine. The very presence on this list is enough to charge a lot to the account of all branches of power.
Anyway, strategic partnership on such basis is anything but inspiring, and nor does it gladden one’s heart to watch Ukraine’s inability to defend its interests, be it with regard to the United States or European Union, or Russia. It suffices to recall the turbines for Iran or the AN-70 project, or how the rich and famous elsewhere in the world appreciated Ukraine’s peacemaking efforts. So far, the atmosphere surrounding Bill Clinton’s visit to Kyiv reminds that of a worldwide emperor visiting a remote dependent territory. And not only because the United States is so powerful, but also because Ukraine has accepted precisely these rules of the game; Washington in Kyiv’s eyes remains the highest authority, both during the Kosovo crisis and when everybody asks when the hell are you going to start all those reforms. Finally, it is only natural that the US, as a superpower, should stage its own superplay in which other countries, among them Ukraine, should play the roles assigned them.
Likewise, a richer and more stable Ukraine would be in a better position to protect the US interests than an impoverished country verging on a social explosion. After all, this answers the Ukrainian interests as well. There would be a divergence only if Ukraine turned into a world economic giant, something that seems unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future, one that would depend not on US loans but on its foreign trade.
Finally, Ukrainian presidents do not visit Ukraine frequently. And so it is just possible that the next visiting Chief Executive will find Ukraine worth being paid more attention rather than described as a habitual borrower — and a highly unreliable one at that. Then perhaps less attention will be paid to all those political shows (which are, nevertheless, necessary now and then). After all has been said and done, it is time for those upstairs to realize that one must rely on one’s own resources in the first place. And that other countries will show due respect only after being convinced that Ukraine has a sense of national dignity.
