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Ukraine: Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty

 

ABM TREATY DOCUMENTS

President's Letter to the US Senate Concerning Approval of ABM Treaty Changes: 15 May 1997

New York Agreements on Theater Missile Defense and ABM Treaty Successor States
Signed 26 September 1997:
First Agreed Statement...  (Low-velocity TMD)
Second Agreed Statement...  (High-velocity TMD)
Statement of the Russian Federation...
Agreement  on Confidence-Building Measures Related to Systems to Counter Ballistic Missiles Other Than Strategic Ballistic Missiles
Memorandum of Understanding on Successor States to the ABM Treaty
Joint Statement on the Annual Exchange of Information...

ABM TREATY DEVELOPMENTS:

 

7/26/2001: UKRAINE EXPRESSES DESIRE TO BE INVOLVED IN ABM TREATY NEGOTIATIONS, REMAINS COMMITTED TO TREATY WHILE ALLOWING FOR MODIFICATION

Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksandr Kuzmuk stated on 26 July 2001 that Ukraine could become a "useful" partner in ABM Treaty negotiations between the United States and Russia.  Kuzmuk commented that, as a country that had given up its nuclear weapons, Ukraine could contribute to constructive negotiations.[1]  Ukraine considers itself to be a successor to the treaty through the Memorandum of Understanding on Successor States to the ABM Treaty (which has not been ratified by the United States), but believes that Russia and the United States have the main responsibility for negotiations.  However, Ukrainian officials have still indicated their desire to participate in negotiations when they take place.[2]  Foreign Minister Anatoliy Zlenko stated on 12 July 2001 that Ukraine is in continual contact with both the United States and Russia, and is interested in participating in the negotiations.[3]  Concerning their position on the ABM Treaty, Ukrainian officials have publicly remained committed to its preservation while at the same time indicating their willingness to negotiate modifications.  Ukraine has proposed plans for participating in developing a European TMD system, and Volodymyr Horbulyn, Chairman of the Commission on the Military-Industrial Complex, indicated that Ukraine is awaiting concrete commercial orders to help develop such a system.  According to the Ukrainian news service UNIAN, some experts believe Ukraine might change its official position on the treaty if commercial orders were made.[2]  Horbulyn said on 6 July 2001 that while ABM Treaty preservation was important, modifications would be necessary to reach a compromise.  He warned that unilateral withdrawal from the treaty by either side would increase the threat of a nuclear war.[4]  Ukrainian President Kuchma signed a Ukrainian-Chinese declaration on 21 July 2001 that included a statement acknowledging that the ABM Treaty is vital to strategic stability.[5]  However, on 24 July 2001 Ukrainian Foreign Ministry press representative Sergey Borodenkov said that despite the declaration, Ukraine still supports negotiated modifications to the treaty.[6]

Sources: 

[1] "Ukraina ne proch prinyat uchastiye v peregovorakh po PRO," Interfax, 26 July 2001. 

[2] "SShA vykhodyat iz dogovora PRO. Zakazy Ukraine poka ne svetyat," UNIAN, No. 28, 9-15 July 2001. 

[3] Yadernaya Rossiya, 16 July 2001. 

[4] "Ukraina vystupayet za modifikatsiyu dogovora po PRO i gotova prisoyedinitsya k peregovoram," Interfax, 6 July 2001. 

[5] "Ot dogovora po PRO zavisit globalnaya strategicheskaya stabilnost i bezopasnost, schitayut Ukraina i Kitay," Interfax, 21 July 2001. 

[6] "Ukraina vystupayet za nekonfliktnuyu adaptatsiyu dogovora o protivoraketnoy oborone - MID," UNIAN, No. 30, 23-29 July 2001. {Entered 10/8/01 RG} 

 

6/5/2001: US DEFENSE SECRETARY RUMSFELD PROMISES FURTHER CONSULTATIONS 

At a press conference in Kiev on 5 June 2001, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that the United States will continue its consultations with Ukraine concerning the ABM Treaty.[1] However, Rumsfeld did not answer a question on US Senate ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding on Successor States to the ABM Treaty.[2] Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksandr Kuzmuk said that while Ukraine adheres to the position that the issue should be decided primarily by the United States and Russia, it also has the right to participate in the negotiations as a successor state to the Soviet Union, and as the first state to give up its nuclear weapons.[1]
Sources:
[1] "SShA schitayut Ukrainu ravnym uchastnikom konsultatsiy po PRO," Interfax, 5 June 2001.
[2] Viktor Timoshenko, "GUUAM -- an Alternative to the Eurasian Economic Community; Washington Wants to Collaborate with Kiev as Before," Nezavisimaya gazeta, 7 June 2001, p. 5; in "US Defense Secretary Rumsfeld Visit to Kiev, GUUAM Yalta Summit Analyzed," FBIS Document CEP20010607000265. {Entered 6/14/2001 MJ}

 

5/12/2001: US DELEGATION HOLDS CONSULTATIONS IN KIEV

A US delegation headed by US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Arms Control Avis Bohlen held meetings in Kiev on 12 May 2001 with Ukrainian political and military officials in order to discuss US plans to create a national missile defense (NMD) system. The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Ihor Kharchenko and included representatives from the presidential administration, National Security and Defense Council, and Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs. US officials explained the main approaches to implementing NMD under consideration by the administration, and reassured their Ukrainian counterparts that the US administration understood the need to avoid unilateral actions in this area.[1] In an interview with an UNIAN correspondent following the talks, State Commission on the Military Industrial Complex Chairman Volodymyr Horbulin stated that Ukraine will be a permanent participant in ABM Treaty consultations, and that the consultations also touched upon missile nonproliferation issues. Horbulin also said that there would be opportunities for Ukrainian technological involvement in the sea- and space-based ABM systems under consideration by the United States, and that Ukraine followed a "pro-Ukrainian," rather than pro-Russian or pro-American policy.[2]
Sources:
[1] "Amerikantsy obyasnyayut ukraintsam svoi plany v oblasti PRO," Interfax, 12 May 2001.
[2] "Ukraina budet postoyannym uchastnikom konsultatsiy pri uchastii SShA po voprosam ogranicheniya sistem protivoraketnoy oborony - Gorbulin," UNIAN, No. 019(159), 7-13 May 2001. {Entered 6/14/2001 MJ}

 

4/2/2001: UKRAINE PREPARED TO MODIFY ABM TREATY, SAYS FOREIGN MINISTER

Speaking to reporters on 2 April 2001, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Anatoliy Zlenko expressed Ukraine's desire to be a party to talks on ballistic missile defenses. Zlenko did not exclude the possibility of creating a new international ABM regime.[1] During earlier talks with US State Department representatives, Zlenko stated that the ABM Treaty could be modified. Commenting on Zlenko's statements, the Ukrainian Economic and Political Studies Center's Military Programs Director Leonid Polyakov said that Ukraine's change of position is a logical step from the point of view of Ukraine's national interests. According to Polyakov, Ukraine's position on the ABM Treaty represents a middle ground, consistent with the positions adopted by countries of Western Europe. He also added that at the moment Ukraine's main foreign policy priority is maintaining its pro-European course, and that Ukraine expects that the United States, Russia, and European countries will engage in a negotiations process through which they will arrive at a mutually acceptable solution. In Polyakov's view, a compromise between the United States and Russia would further Ukraine's national security as well as economic interests, since by virtue of possessing advanced missile and radar technologies it would likely be involved in work on missile defense systems either directly or through Russia.[2]
Sources:
[1] "Ukraina khotela by prinimat uchastiye v protsesse resheniya voprosa o protivoraketnoy oborone--Zlenko," UNIAN, No. 014(154), 2-8 April 2001.
[2] "Izmeneniye pozitsii Ukrainy v voprose modifikatsii Dogovora po PRO logichno s tochki zreniya yeye natsionalnykh interesov," UNIAN, No. 013(153), 26 March-1 April 2001. {Entered 5/15/2001 MJ}

 

1/11/2001:  VERKHOVNA RADA RATIFIES MOU ON SUCCESSOR STATES TO THE ABM TREATY

On 11 January 2001 Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada ratified the Memorandum of Understanding on Successor States to the ABM Treaty.  The MOU permits Ukraine to participate as a successor state in issues concerning the treaty. 

["Parlament Ukrainy ratifitsiroval memorandum o pravopreemstvennosti strany po dogovoru ob ogranichenii sistem protivoraketnoy oborony," Interfax, 11 January 2001.] {Entered 2/21/01 RG}

Comments or questions? Contact Michael Jasinski at MIIS CNS: Michael.Jasinski@miis.edu

This material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2002 by MIIS.

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