UKRAINE: U.S. FEEDBACK ON SLV ENGINE COOPERATION

S E C R E T KYIV 002490 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR SCA/INS, EUR/UMB, EUR/PRA, AND ISN/MTR E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017 TAGS: PARM ETTC MTCRE TSPA PREL IN UP SUBJECT: UKRAINE: U.S. FEEDBACK ON SLV ENGINE COOPERATION WITH INDIA AND MIXER CASE REF: A. STATE 135358 ¶B. KYIV 2245 Classified By: Political Counselor Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4(b,c,d) ¶1. (S) We relayed ref A points September 27, on both the planned cooperation with the Indian Space Research Organization and a possible batch mixer sale to India's Cyano Chemisive Systems, to MFA Arms Control and Military Technical Cooperation Department Counselor Oleh Belokolos. Belokolos thanked us, but had no reaction. ¶2. (C) Comment: Belokolos was likely being circumspect until he had a chance to relay our answers to higher-ups within MFA and to the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU). As he indicated on another issue, however (septel),the Ukrainian government response will likely be determined at a session of the high-level, interagency Commission on Arms Control and Military Technical Cooperation. Since the Commission, which meets monthly and is chaired by a deputy prime minister, has already met in September and, as Belokolos noted, the timing of next session is very uncertain, the Ukrainian response to our feedback is likely to be delayed. (Note: Ukraine will have parliamentary elections September 30, after which the political parties in parliament will negotiate to form a majority coalition and select the next prime minister and cabinet for the new government. We heard September 28, however, that the Commission might be scheduled to meet during the week of October 1.) Once the Ukrainians do come back to us, however, we will draw on the excellent and comprehensive background provided ref A to explain and defend the U.S. stance. ¶3. (U) Visit Embassy Kyiv's classified website: www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev. Taylor