RF MFA Department of Information and Press, 'Concerning Western Assessments of the Position of Ukraine on Nuclear Weapons (Information)'

[handwritten at the top: “of 22 April 1993”]

Copy Nº 6

20 April 1993

Outgoing Nº 472/dip

CONCERNING WESTERN ASSESSMENTS OF THE POSITION OF UKRAINE ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS

(information)

The inconsistent position of Ukraine about nuclear weapons is causing growing concern in Western circles. It is noted that it is becoming increasing unpredictable. Experts warn of the danger of a possible “breach” of two questions by Kiev: the ratification of the START-1 Treaty and accession to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which would lead to a violation of the Lisbon protocol and slow the process of the realization of nuclear disarmament.  

Observers think that the approaches of the leading Western countries, primarily the US, regarding Kiev’s observance of the Lisbon obligations remain as before, which was again demonstrated in a recent meeting of the ministers of “the Seven” in Tokyo. In their opinion, the guarantees of security received by Ukraine by G. Bush will hardly be reconsidered by the new American administration. In addition, they predict a possibility of a worsening of the West’s relations with Ukraine in the event of non-fulfillment of the aforementioned obligations.

At the same time it points to the desire to develop new constructive ideas to settle the problem of the denuclearization of Ukraine, primarily through CSCE channels. A collective influence on Kiev by the international community is not excluded.

Many analysts take with condemnation Kiev’s tactic of arranging the acquisition of nuclear-free status with numerous conditions and demands. Such behavior by the leadership of Ukraine is qualified as “ideological and economic extortion”, and therefore, they stress, the West does not intend to satisfy the far-reaching ambitions to finance nuclear disarmament, and in the extreme case might agree only to give technical assistance.

Western political scientists regarded with understanding the Statement of the RF Government about nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine. British commentators, for example, were clearly alarmed at the report contained it of a desire of the Ukrainian authorities to increase control over nuclear weapons. Special concern is expressed about the fact that nuclear ammunition for strategic bombers has actually passed into their hands.

At the same time in a number of countries a tendency is evident not to let themselves be drawn into the discussion being held about the nuclear problem between Moscow and Kiev. Hence calls to finally renounce “the danger of a simplified approach” to the problem of nuclear weapons, and to display “mutual flexibility and good sense”. Some commentators, most of all Chinese, suggest transferring this complex international question exclusively to the sphere of bilateral relations. Canadian and Polish commentators mainly take an openly pro-Kiev stance. In particular, they accuse Russia of “bearing guilt’ for the exacerbation of the conflict with Ukraine, at one time proposing putting the nuclear weapons of the former USSR under the control of the OSV [Combined Armed Forces] of the SNG. 

On the whole the idea is pursued in foreign assessments that Russia has already exhausted all the available means at its disposal and now ought to actively join the other countries in this which are depositaries of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

RF MFA Department of Information and Press

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