COMMENTARY: Ukraine: strong ally of the West, NATO (05/09/99)

COMMENTARY: Ukraine: strong ally of the West, NATO

by Frank Carlucci and Gen. William Odom

WASHINGTON - Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma participated in the NATO anniversary in spite of blatant pressure by Russian Prime Minister Primakov to "stay home." As the NATO intervention in Kosovo unfolds, it is timely to reflect on the broader geopolitical interest of the U.S. in Central Europe.

The newest NATO members - Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland - are facing growing domestic public opinion pressures that will inevitably influence their enthusiasm for their new alliance responsibilities.

While, on the one hand, the new members of the alliance may draw conclusions that will reassure them about NATO's willingness to act, certainly in the short run there is serious skepticism about what some critics call "military adventurism."

However, the impact of the Kosovo crisis may well hold even more significance in terms of our broader Central European interests and deeply affect our nuclear relationship with the two largest members of the former Soviet Union: Ukraine and Russia.

Moscow's constantly changing opposition to the alliance's efforts and the stalled START II treaty is obviously cause for close attention.

Under these circumstances, the performance of Ukraine in ridding itself of nuclear warheads and cooperating with NATO in the Partnership for Peace program becomes even more impressive.

The largest state in Europe, Ukraine occupies more land mass in Europe than the United Kingdom, France or Germany. Its population of 50 million is the fourth largest in Europe.

Strategically, it is vitally important to us now as the map of Central Europe comes under heavy stress with Russia shifting back and forth between a nostalgic desire to play the card of a superpower and its pressing economic need to cooperate with the West.

An ever-present challenge is Moscow's pressure on Ukraine to collaborate more closely with Belarus and Russia - even to the extent that it threatens the existence of independent Ukraine.

In this Kosovo crisis, President Kuchma has been measured and statesman-like in condemning Serbian violence against the Kosovars, while deploring the effects of NATO bombing. In appealing for a peaceful resolution, he has made clear Ukraine's willingness to provide a bridge between Russia, NATO and Serbia. When one recalls Ukraine's rapid provision of a battalion of troops for the United Nations effort in Bosnia, his offer takes on added significance.

President Kuchma's position deserves even more recognition, as he is constantly facing pressures from his political rivals in the Ukrainian Parliament, many of whom are pro-Russian politicians, including some who openly advocate restoration of the Soviet Union.

In this troubled situation, Ukraine clearly is a valuable ally for the United States and NATO.

Frank Carlucci, a former career diplomat, served as U.S. secretary of defense, national security adviser to President Ronald Reagan, and deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency. U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William Odom (Ret.) is director of National Security Studies for The Hudson Institute and served as director of the National Security Agency from 1981-1985.

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