Atlantic Cyclone Followed by Northern Wind

These days Ukraine has found itself in the sights of its strategic partners: US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was welcomed in Ukraine last Friday and the newly elected President of Russia arrived in Kyiv yesterday. It is remarkable that another date was previously announced for Ms. Albright’s visit: April 20 and 21. As observers note, after it became known that Mr. Putin may appear on the Dnipro’s banks earlier — on April 17 — the date set for a visit of the distinguished American guest was changed. It is noteworthy that Ms. Albright’s Ukrainian vis-a-vis Borys Tarasiuk said before negotiations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the visit of the US Secretary of State is “very timely,” and “even the weather favors the meeting.”

As a part of her visit, Ms. Albright had meetings with Ukraine’s President and Prime Minister, as well as with representatives of the domestic business community, Interfax-Ukraine reports. Interestingly, the broad agenda for bilateral relations included the discussion of US-Ukrainian interaction on the international arena and problems of multilateral diplomacy. Meanwhile, Moscow political weathermen note sunny skies elsewhere as well: in the relations between Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. As we know, the Russian leader made his first Western visit to London. According to analysts, this move can be related to Moscow’s aspiration to restore its foreign policy vector in the West, alternative to the American one. And if this be the case, Ms. Albright’s arrival to Kyiv on the eve of Mr. Putin’s visit seems a fitting answer to the Kremlin’s desire to flirt with a long-standing and reliable ally of Washington.

As far is Ukraine is concerned, whether Kyiv has managed to effectively use its geopolitical status will become known today from the firmness of the Ukrainian side in negotiations with the delegation from Moscow. After all, Mr. Putin did not come just to see the springtime Kyiv. And Ms. Albright gave her first encouraging sign to Ukraine at the conclusion of her visit: Viktor Yushchenko’s press secretary Natalia Zarudna announced that the previously deferred visit of the Ukrainian Premier to the USA will be made in the first half of May.