Ukraine: Miscellaneous Developments

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	Miscellaneous Developments

Ukraine: Miscellaneous Developments

This is an archived page. Please visit the new Ukraine country profile

UKRAINE: MISCELLANEOUS DEVELOPMENTS


6/17/96: UKRAINIAN-RUSSIAN-BULGARIAN AGREEMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE MOLDOVAN AND ROMANIAN CONSENT: It was reported that an agreement between Ukraine, Russia and Bulgaria had been signed that provided for Russian nuclear fuel to be shipped through Ukrainian territory to the Bulgarian Kozloduy nuclear power plant. According to Oleksandr Vorobyov, Ukrainian ambassador to Bulgaria, Ukraine consented to Russian nuclear fuel being shipped through Ukraine's territory by rail. However, according to the ambassador, rail shipment is impracticable at the moment because of the lack of agreement between Moldova and Romania. Therefore, a ferry alternative is also under consideration. Vorobyov said that Ukraine has some doubts about the shipment of waste nuclear fuel by sea due to safety concerns.; [Vladislav Vorobyov, "Ukraine Will Not Hinder the Shipment of Fuel for the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, Duma, 17 June 1996, p. 3, in "Bulgaria," FBIS-EEU-96-115, 17 June 1996.]

4/29/96: UDOVENKO OFFERS NUCLEAR-WEAPON-FREE ZONE IN BLACK SEA BASIN: At the 7th Bucharest meeting of foreign ministers of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization Ukrainian Foreign Minister Hennadiy Udovenko spoke in favor of a nuclear weapons free zone (NWFZ) in the Black Sea basin.; [ITAR-TASS, 29 March 1996, in "Central Eurasia: Ukraine," FBIS-TAC-96-006, 29 March 1996.]

2/21/96: UKRAINE WANTS TO JOIN CIS INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY: The Verkhovna Rada defeated a motion to have Ukraine join the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.; ["Supreme Rada Declines To Join CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly," Update on Ukraine, February 1995.]

12/15/95: MOSCOW WILL HOST SUMMIT OF CIS LEADERS: On 1/19/96, CIS leaders will hold a summit in Moscow to examine drafts on the activities of the Council on Collective Security. In addition they will examine provisions for collective peacekeeping forces in the CIS. The CIS leaders will also discuss implementation of the Treaty on Economic Union and the potential membership of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the CIS customs union.; ["Tentative Agenda For Meeting Of CIS Leaders Is Set," Segodnya, 22 December 1995, p. 1; "Meeting Of CIS Leaders Will Take Place On January 19," Segodnya, 15 December 1995, p. 1.]

11/2/95: MEETING BETWEEN CIS DEFENSE MINISTERS: The participants of a meeting between the CIS Defense Ministers were scheduled to exchange opinions on issues concerning nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, missiles and missile technology, and cooperation in the field of export controls.; ["CIS States Decided to Revive ABM system of the USSR," Segodnya, 2 November 1995, p. 2.]

4/25/95: UKRAINE ADHERENCE TO NPT DEPENDS ON RESOLVING CRIMEA ISSUE: Yuriy Karmazin, chairman of the ad-hoc parliamentary commission on the political and legal situation in the Crimea, stated that the Rada might reexamine its adherence to the NPT if the Crimean issue is not resolved.; [ITAR-TASS, 4/28/95, in "Lawmaker Warns of NPT Ratification Revision," FBIS-SOV-95-083, 4/28/95.]

4/1/95: SEVASTOPOL SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO UKRAINEAS CONDITION FOR JOINING NPT: Ivan Zayets, Chairman of the Rada Commission on International Affairs and Relations with the CIS stated that Ukraine joined the NPT with the condition that it could opt out of the treaty if territorial claims were made on it; he was referring to the ongoing debate over the transfer of Sevastopol to Ukraine. He maintains that the security guarantees that the nuclear powers provided to Ukraine mean that the issue of the legality of the transfer should never be raised again by the Russian Duma.; [INTERFAX, 4/7/95, in "Commission Chairman on Russian Duma, Sevastopol, NPT," FBIS-SOV-95-068, 4/7/95.]

3/22/95: US-UKRAINIAN FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION TREATY ADOPTED BY CABINET RESOLUTION: The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted Resolution No. 166-r for the implementation of the US-Ukrainian Friendship and Cooperation Treaty signed in 11/94. Some of the measures included in this Treaty include cooperation with regard to: export controls and the sharing of information; implementation of Nunn-Lugar projects for strategic nuclear arms dismantlement; consultation on Ukraine's participation in the MTCR and COCOM's successor; and speeding up the progress of the ISTC in Kiev.; [INTELNEWS, 4/4/95, in "Decree Detailing Implementation of US Treaty," FBIS-SOV-95-070, 4/4/95.]

2/10/95: UKRAINE DOES NOT JOIN CIS COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY: Ukraine is not a signatory to the CIS collective security treaty that was signed in Almaty; [Zvyazda (Minsk), 4/4/95, pp. 1,3, in "'Text' of Almaty Declaration on CIS Collective Security," FBIS-SOV-95-070, 4/4/95.]

12/7/94: WESTERN SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE IS POSSIBLE IF IT DOES NOT HALT REFORMS: President Kuchma held bilateral talks with the leaders of 21 nations in Budapest in order to ensure that these countries would increase cooperation with Ukraine once it acceded to the NPT. These countries set only one condition for Western support: that Ukraine not halt its program of reform. Kuchma responded that "Ukraine has entered such a stage of reform from which there is no way back."; [ITAR-TASS, 12/7/94, in FBIS-SOV-94-236, 12/7/94.]

11/17/94: FRANCE AND CHINA WILL PROVIDE UKRAINE WITH SECURITY GUARANTEES: France announced that it would provide Ukraine with separate security guarantees once it acceded to the NPT as a non-nuclear state. The government stated that it would make its guarantees public at the same time as Russia, the United States, and Great Britain. China stated that it is considering providing Ukraine with security guarantees, which is a reversal of its official position from earlier in the year.; [Marta Kolomayets, "World Leaders Praise Ukraine's Accession to NPT," The Ukrainian Weekly, 11/27/94, pp. 1, 2.]

11/94: UKRAINE DEBATES JOINING NPT: There was significant debate regarding the likelihood of Ukraine joining the NPT in the months prior to the Supreme Rada's eventual ratification. In June and July 1994, while campaigning for President, Kravchuk supported joining the NPT, while Kuchma's position was less favorable toward the treaty. Soon after he was elected President, however, Kuchma pledged to secure the Rada's approval of the NPT. Both Rada Chairman Oleksandr Moroz and Borys Oliynyk, Chairman of the Rada Foreign Affairs Commission, vacillated, first saying it was likely that the NPT would be ratified, and then cautioning that ratification should not be expected in the near future. Volodymyr Mukhin, Chairman of the Rada Commission on Defense and Security, stated that Ukraine was not ready to join the NPT this year. Accession to the NPT was approved on 11/16/94.; [Numerous reports in the Ukrainian media in FBIS, REUTER, RFE/RL News Briefs, and Intel News, 7-10/94.]

11/94: UKRAINE DEMANDS MORE EXPLICIT SECURITY GUARANTEES FROM THE NUCLEAR POWERS: There have been a number of reports in the press, citing Ukrainian demands for more explicit security guarantees from the nuclear powers. According to a 9/15/94 INTERFAX report, Ukraine has requested written security guarantees from the nuclear powers. Foreign Minister Hennadiy Udovenko was quoted as saying that guarantees were not a pre-condition to joining the NPT. However, the Ukrainian- US Consultative Committee deemed it necessary to give Ukraine written guarantees once it signs the NPT. In early November Ukraine and Russia held talks on security guarantees for Ukraine.; [INTERFAX (Moscow), 9/15/94 and 9/25/94, in "Security Guarantees Requested From `Nuclear Powers'," and "Delegation Views Kiev's Nuclear Security," FBIS-SOV-94-(180,186), 9/16/94 and 9/25/94. See also "Ukrainian-Russian Talks On Security Guarantees," RFE/RL Daily Report, No. 210, 11/4/94.]

10/5/94: GREATER SECURITY ASSURANCES SHOULD BE SOUGHT BEFORE NPT WILL BE RATIFIED: President Leonid Kuchma submitted the NPT to the Supreme Rada for ratification. Rada Chairman Oleksandr Moroz told reporters in Washington, DC that he was certain that Ukraine would endorse the NPT, but stressed that greater security assurances would be sought before the treaty would be ratified.; ["Ukraine's NPT Accession Remains Unsettled Issue," Arms Control Today, 11/94, p. 33; Stan Markotich, "Kiev to Close Chernobyl," RFE/RL Daily Report No. 189, 10/5/94.]

9/28/94: SUPREME RADA APPROVES THE DECISION ON NON-NUCLEAR STATUS: In his statement to the UN General Assembly, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Hennadiy Udovenko stated that resolution of problems related to arms control and disarmament were key factors in Ukraine's foreign policy. Speaking about nuclear disarmament, Udovenko said that the Supreme Rada approved the decision on non-nuclear status, and that although Ukraine is giving up its nuclear weapons, it still reserves the right to seek reliable security guarantees from other nuclear-weapons states, as well as adequate economic and technical assistance from the international community.; ["Statement by H. E. Hennadiy Udovenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in the General Debate of the 49th Session of the UN General Assembly," 9/28/94.]

9/94: NPT NEEDS OVERVIEW: Supreme Rada Chairman Oleksandr Moroz stated that although Ukraine considers the NPT to be an imperfect document, it will sign the treaty. He feels that an overview of the treaty, one that will offer better security guarantees, is needed. Moroz stated Ukraine would not sign the NPT this year, since the Supreme Rada is not scheduled to vote on it until January 1995, despite President Kuchma's desire for it to be voted on in October.; Sources:; [1] UNIAN, 9/8/94, in "Moroz Pledges Accession to Non-Proliferation Treaty," FBIS-SOV-94-175, 9/9/94, p. 43.; [2] KYIV RADIO UKRAINE WORLD SERVICE, 9/16/94, in "Moroz Sees `Imperfection' in Nuclear Treaty," FBIS-SOV-94-181, 9/18/94, p. 37.; [3] Matthew Kaminski, "Ukraine Delays N-Treaty Vote," Financial Times, 9/17-18/94, p. 3.

9/94: RADA NOT READY TO RATIFY NPT: President Leonid Kuchma will submit the NPT to the Supreme Rada in 10/94. Chairman of the Rada Commission on Foreign Affairs Borys Oliynyk commented that the Supreme Rada may not yet be ready to vote for ratification of the NPT.; ["Ukraine To Take Time Over Signing NPT --Deputy," REUTER, 9/1/94.]

10/93: US PROPOSAL IS NOT WELL-RECEIVED BY OTHER NPT COUNTRIES: An American proposal that would allow Ukraine to submit to full-scope safeguards while exempting their "strategic stockpiles" was not well-received by other NPT countries, which fear such a move could set a dangerous precedent.; [Mark Hibbs, "US-Ukraine Safeguards Proposal Protested As Dangerous Precedent," Nucleonics Week, 10/28/93, pp. 6-7.]

9/3/93: UKRAINE SIGNS BILATERAL AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA, "ON UTILIZATION OF NUCLEAR WARHEADS": [Interview with Ukrainian official, 1/95.]
9/93: UKRAINE AND UNITED STATES SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING: Defense Secretary Les Aspin and Defense Minister General Morozov signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) increasing the level of cooperation between US and Ukrainian defense establishments. The MoU establishes the US-Ukrainian Bilateral Working Group on Defense Issues, which consists of senior-level defense experts from both countries. Representatives of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will also meet with their counterparts in Ukraine. Under-Secretary of Defense William Perry suggested the creation of an American-Ukrainian defense conversion commission to aid Ukraine in shifting its defense capabilities to civilian production.; [Dunbar Lockwood, "Ukraine Position Hardens Despite Some Positive Signs," Arms Control Today, 9/93, p. 30.]

7/7/93: KUCHMA CONSIDERS SIGNING NPT AFTER 1995 REVIEW CONFERENCE: Prime Minister Kuchma called for Ukraine to temporarily declare itself a nuclear state and consider signing the NPT after the 1995 review conference.; [John Lepingwell, "Russia, Ukraine, And Nuclear Weapons: A Chronology," RFE/RL RESEARCH REPORT, Vol. 3, No. 4, 1/28/94, p. 23.]

7/2/93: RADA PASSES AMENDMENT TO UKRAINE'S FOREIGN POLICY PROGRAM: With a vote of 226-15, with 2 abstentions, the Supreme Rada passed an amendment to Ukraine's foreign policy program that asserts ownership over the nuclear weapons located on its territory and a pledge not to use them and eventually become a non-nuclear state.; [John Lepingwell, "Russia, Ukraine, And Nuclear Weapons: A Chronology," RFE/RL RESEARCH REPORT, Vol. 3, No. 4, 1/28/94, p. 23.]

4/28/93: FOREIGN MINISTRY, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT DISAGREE ON UKRAINIAN STATUS: Radio Ukraine broadcast a statement by the Foreign Ministry that said the Ministry did not agree with the comment made by Minister of the Environment Yuriy Kostenko that Ukraine was a nuclear weapons state.; ["Kiev Denies Nuclear Status," RFE/RL Daily Report, No. 87, 4/93.]

4/23/93: THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION BETWEEN BELARUS AND UKRAINE: The Belarus State Committee for Nuclear and Industrial Supervision (Derzhpromatom) and the Ukrainian State Committee for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (Derzhkomatom) signed a three-year Agreement on Cooperation in which the two states decided to work together on projects to improve and monitor safety in the nuclear sphere, to exchange information regularly as well as in the case of accidents, and to coordinate policy in the area of nuclear safety.; [From Russian-language text of the agreement, 4/23/93.]

1/14/93: RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN BILATERAL TREATY: "The Treaty Between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Russian Federation on Scientific-Technical and Economic Cooperation in the Field of Atomic Energy" was signed. Article 1 states the Ukrainian and Russian governments agree to technical inspections on Ukrainian territory by the IAEA to ensure nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. Article 3 discusses the disposition of unused and spent nuclear fuel. Article 8 discusses the governmental agencies responsible for the fulfillment of this treaty: the responsible parties on the Ukrainian side are the State Committee for the Use of Atomic Energy and the State Committee for Nuclear and Radiation Safety. The treaty will be in effect for two years with an automatic 5-year extension if both sides are amenable.; [From the text of, "Uhoda Mizh Uryadom Ukrainy i Uryadom Rosiiskoi Federatsii Pro Naukovo-Tekhnichne Ta Ekonomichne Spivrobitnytsvo V Haluzi Atomnoi Enerhetyky," signed 1/14/93.]

1/14/93: UKRAINE SIGNS BILATERAL AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA, "On scientific and technical cooperation in the field of nuclear power": [Interview with Ukrainian official, 1/95.]
5/23/92: UKRAINE SIGNS LISBON PROTOCOL: Ukraine signed the Lisbon Protocol, under which it is obligated to ratify the START I Treaty and adhere to the NPT as a non-nuclear weapons state "in the shortest possible time." The Supreme Rada has not yet ratified the Protocol or approved Ukrainian accession to the NPT. Ukraine has not concluded a safeguards agreement with the IAEA.; [Arms Control Today, 6/92, pp. 34-35.]

7/90: UKRAINE ISSUES DECLARATION OF SOVEREIGNTY: Ukraine issued its Declaration of Sovereignty, in which it pledged not to maintain, procure, or acquire nuclear weapons. This non-nuclear clause reflected the strong anti-nuclear sentiment in the country at the time.; [F. Stephen Larrabee, "Ukraine: Europe's Next Crisis?" Arms Control Today, 7/94-8/94, p. 18.]