Ukrainian president tries to make Ukraine NATO member on the sly

Mr. Kuchma made his last desperate attempt to repair the relations with the West a year ago. In June 2004, on the eve of the NATO summit in Istanbul, he approved a new version of the national military doctrine which held the implementation of a policy aimed at North Atlantic integration with Ukraine joining NATO being the ultimate goal that should be viewed as one of the conditions for national security. But his gesture fell flat. Mr. Kuchma eventually crossed off a part of his decree saying about preparations taken by Ukraine to ensure its full-fledged membership in the EU and NATO. The final version of the document on North Atlantic integration with accession to NATO being a priority of the Ukrainian domestic and foreign policy had no direct reference to Ukraine's plans to join NATO, BBC reported at the time. Looks like it was the final straw in Mr. Kuchma's case.

Putting Ukraine back on the right track (the right one according to the West) is one of the missions Mr. Yushchenko has to accomplish. Brussels sent him a few clear-cut and encouraging signals as the “orange” revolution was gaining pace in Kiev. NATO said that it might consider stepping up talks for much more closer cooperation between the Alliance and Ukraine if the opposition presidential candidate Victor Yushchenko won the election run-off. Similar statements were made earlier by some diplomats in NATO, Reuters reported on December 17th, 2004.

Mr. Yushchenko is undoubtedly trying to work hard on trust the West put in him. As regards the promises made to the people during the election campaign, things are not running so smoothly. But cooperation between Ukraine and NATO is going at full swing. The implementation of programs put on hold in the past has resumed. Prior to the Brussels NATO summit, the organization unveiled a 12-year program to finance a large-scale weapons annihilation project in Ukraine. However, the economy of Ukraine and its people are still an obstacle on the road leading to Ukraine's full-fledged membership in NATO. The new authorities have a great deal of work to do for that matter.   

Aleksei Kovalev