Yatseniuk’s signals

Ukraine and Russia seem to be intent on ushering in a new era of mutually pragmatic relations on April 3. On that day, Presidents Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin of Russia will set the ball rolling in Moscow and sign the Ukraine-Russia Action Plan for 2007-08. That is the belief of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arsenii Yatseniuk, who will accompany the Ukrainian president on this visit.

The Ukrainian foreign minister said that signing this plan will be the first crucial step of the Yushchenko-Putin Commission. Yatseniuk emphasized that “there is only one approach to Ukrainian-Russian relations: mutual pragmatism and a well-tuned, predictable relationship.” The minister thinks that this approach is a very good signal for the gradual solution of the pressing problems that the two countries are facing.

The minister called for an end to the politicization of the stationing of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine. “There is a clear-cut deadline for the Black Sea Fleet on the territory of Ukraine, and there are relevant international commitments,” he stressed.

As for Euro-Atlantic integration, Yatseniuk suggested that NATO rhetoric be dropped altogether. “We must focus on the reforms that Ukraine needs, not on the NATO membership issue,” he emphasized.

This raises the question of whether Yatseniuk, as the president’s man, will be truly independent in his actions. That is doubtful. Reportedly, the minister may soon have a “supervisor” from the Cabinet of Ministers. According to the weekly Kommentarii, the cabinet may introduce the post of vice-prime minister for foreign policy to be assigned to ex-foreign minister Kostiantyn Hryshchenko.

COMMENTARY

Valerii CHALY, deputy director general, Razumkov Center:

“First of all, there should be a well-defined strategy of mutual relations. But so far neither Ukraine nor Russia has this kind of strategy. Second, outdated stereotypes should be scrapped ands a more flexible attitude to the current situation should be adopted. The results of the Yushchenko-Putin Commission meeting will show to what extent the two sides are prepared for this new stage in their relations.

“It is very important that Ukraine is again turning to Russia as a predictable and dialogue-seeking partner pursuing the national interests and standpoints enshrined in Ukrainian law and reflected in its bilateral relations with Russia. Prospects for our relations will depend primarily on whether the political elite of both countries recognizes the value of bilateral relations and the irreversibility of Ukraine’s chosen path toward European and Euro-Atlantic integration. If this is done, we will abandon the unrealistic projects of rejoining systems with supranational bodies and will pay more attention to the still potent bilateral relations.”