Special Features of National Fishing

It is very good that the presidents of neighboring countries like normal people find the time and opportunity to communicate while fishing. It would have been absolutely wonderful if this had happened, say, during both leaders' summer vacations, and if this had not been at the expense of taxpayers in both Ukraine and Russia. And the taxpayer will hardly object to even this, if he/she feels at least some positive effects of such meetings.

It is wonderful that the presidents do not avoid awkward topics in their conversation, Interfax-Ukraine reports. But there will hardly be any results from this for Ukraine and Russia, and not just for Mr. Kuchma and Mr. Yeltsin. The presidents have already struck more than one deal about the expansion of sugar quotas for Ukraine and the intensification of trade. This recurred this time also, but statistics inexorably show that total Ukrainian-Russian trade is in fact falling every day. Gazprom, and Russian oil companies refuse to be paid for natural gas and oil in kind, for, since August 1998, Ukrainian goods have become more expensive, but not of higher quality, than Russian ones. The comments of all Russians, who have something to do with the sugar business, boil down to the fact that the Russian market simply does not need Ukrainian sugar because it is more expensive than Cuban, and there is no market niche for it. Trade does not heed the presidents, no matter what they say in this respect. The possibility of the mutual settlement of Ukrainian debts for energy resources and Russian debts for the Moskva cruiser and other work of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex was news to the Russians. Thus it is only the presidents themselves who can feel the effectiveness of this diplomacy without neckties.

Mr. Yeltsin, though still the center of attention, is step by step fading from the political scene. Post-Yeltsin Russia does not so far have a clear image. Perhaps one of those who will embody it is Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin: this is why nothing has been reported about the meetings between him and President Kuchma. For the main question the current Ukrainian president faces - whether Russia is interested in further supporting him - still lacks an unambiguous answer.

At least, the Russian side, as Interfax reports, does not yet confirm reports that Mr. Yeltsin has accepted Mr. Kuchma's invitation to visit Ukraine this fall, although Interfax-Ukraine has already reported that the visit will take place. But it is beyond all doubt that these actions - both fishing for carp outside Moscow and Yeltsin's expected visit - are connected with the approaching elections.