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IMPROVEMENT OF THE U.S.-RUSSIA RELATIONS IS GOOD FOR UKRAINE
VALERY CHALIY,
Deputy General Director of Ukrainian Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Studies, International Programs Director, Kyiv
It is too early to speak with confidence about the tendency change in the Washington-Kyiv relations in connection with Barack Obama’s victory in the U.S. presidential election. The Ukrainian authorities have not negotiated with the new U.S. leaders yet. It should be understood that the U.S.-Russia relations as well as those of the U.S.A. and Ukraine are objectively based on the national interests.
Ukraine’s national interests cannot change drastically even if a different party comes to power, as it occurred in the U.S.A. On the other hand, there are prerequisites for a closer approach and dialogue with Obama’s Administration. This can positively influence both Russia-Ukraine relations and the entire situation in the former Soviet Union.
Today the economy and financial stability issues are of paramount importance. That’s why such painful for Russia issues as NATO and EU enlargement recede into the background.
As a matter of fact, everything improving the U.S.-Russia relations will be good for Ukraine. Ukraine doesn’t want to be affected by the problems caused by the U.S.-Russia bad relations. This is one of the reasons why Ukraine is to welcome the fact that the issue of cutbacks in the nuclear arsenal can become of importance to the U.S.A. and Russia again. Ukraine has implemented the nuclear disarmament and seeks to become a part of the collective security system.
Besides, the expected change in Washington’s self-appraisal and in the U.S. role in the world can also positively influence the situation in the post-Soviet space. The White House experts forecast the world’s transition from the unipolar system to the multipolar one.
Another issue is that Moscow should be more flexible in these questions. Sometimes Russia acts as a major geopolitical player with the potential that is equal to that of other major players. But this potential is not supported by economic resources. If to ask which post-Soviet country is the most interested in Russia’s progressive and stable development, the answer would be “Ukraine”, especially if we managed to drop the issues, which disunite us, and to focus on the issues, which unite us.
February 17, 2009
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