Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yanukovych spent Monday in Moscow in accordance with their joint and individual programs. After appointing all members of the cabinet — which is now considered a coalition government — it appeared that both dignitaries had to fly to Moscow for what was officially described as summing up the Year of Ukraine in Russia. Incidentally, Premier Yanukovych promised, right after the vote in parliament, to enhance the Russian vector. Traditionally, a premier has to appear in Moscow on his first official visit as head of government. Anyway, what was actually discussed at the Russian capital broached far more serious subjects than the Year of Ukraine in Russia or the Year of Russia in Ukraine.
According to the Russian news agency Novosti, the President of Ukraine said Russia is Ukraine’s most important strategic partner. Mr. Kuchma knew, of course, how this statement would be received by those still believing in Ukraine’s course toward European and Euro- Atlantic integration.
Ukraine is also “an essential and major” strategic partner for Russia, President Putin said in response. The whole thing looked more like an exchange of diplomatic pleasantries, because (a) Ukraine is hardly in a position to be regarded as a equal partner of Russia, and (b) world public attention was focused on NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson’s visit to Moscow yesterday. During that visit equal partnership was discussed, meant to strengthen global security.
In fact, President Kuchma admitted that there are sore points in Ukrainian-Russian relationships. This year the expression “trade war” was used at the highest political level, for the first time (although in reality this “war”— in terms of constantly raising costs and import rate, GDP deductions, etc. — has been underway for a number of years). Thus, while celebrating the Year of Ukraine, the Russian government raised the customs duties on sugar and confectionery, and restricted the exports of Ukrainian pipes. Ukraine responded specifically by raising customs duties on Russian cars. Premier Yanukovych declared he would press for a speedy institution of a free trade zone. A subject that has been discussed for years.
Another result of the Year of Ukraine in Russia was that both countries failed to agree on the status of the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov, and on the delimitation of the sea frontier.
And there are compensations still to be paid by Ukraine for the passengers and crew of the TU-154 liner shot down by a Ukrainian rocket last year.
On the other hand, Ukrainian leadership came out with a number of declarations last year, stressing the need to coordinate the Ukrainian and Russian political courses; it was said on more than one occasion that the relationships between Kyiv and Moscow were improving, that they were now reaching a pragmatic plane. Indeed, it would be hard to blame the Russian leadership for lack of pragmatism now that the Kremlin is perhaps the only one to have demonstrated support of their Ukrainian counterparts in view of a sharp decline in friendly official exchanges between Kyiv and the West, primarily on the part of the United States and EU countries. The impression is that veiled developments in forming a gas transportation consortium (theoretically still to be joined by Western European companies) is one of the options of payment for that support. President Kuchma is known to have described Russia as Ukraine’s “number one strategic partner.” Washington has since stopped discussing strategic partnership with this country and the situation has changed for official Kyiv. The current Ukrainian “coalition” seems to be banking on Moscow, so the subject of European integration (and a number of attendant vitally needed reforms) has been forgotten for the time being. Also, Leonid Kuchma’s words about both countries being in a “dashing mood” and that one must “work so no one will be ashamed and will confidently look into the people’s eyes” do not seem to convey any particularly significant message, sounding very much like another political declaration, something everyone has long become used to. If only one could be sure that Ukrainian-Russian relationships are based on the national interests rather than those of separate Ukrainian groups and that they do not serve the very specific interests of the Kremlin and Russian companies. If only one could be sure that Russian companies are mastering Ukraine exclusively as part of the severe competition with US or French capital. Interfax Ukraine quotes Russian premier Mikhail Kasyanov as saying that “Russia is prepared for comprehensive integration with Ukraine.” Of course, considering that Mr. Kasyanov is an ardent exponent of Ukraine’s accession to the Eurasian community.
However, one must remember that Ukrainian leaders have always been known for saying precisely that which others expected to hear.
