Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KYIV571
2009-03-30 14:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kyiv
Cable title:  

DEFENSE MINISTER SEES NATO ACCESSION AS "MARATHON,

Tags:  PREL NATO UP 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 301419Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KYIV
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7536
INFO CIS COLLECTIVE
NATO EU COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 000571 


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO UP
SUBJECT: DEFENSE MINISTER SEES NATO ACCESSION AS "MARATHON,
NOT SPRINT"

Classified By: Ambassador William Taylor. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L KYIV 000571


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO UP
SUBJECT: DEFENSE MINISTER SEES NATO ACCESSION AS "MARATHON,
NOT SPRINT"

Classified By: Ambassador William Taylor. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov, meeting with the
Ambassador in Sevastopol March 27, declared that the GOU now
regards NATO accession as a "marathon not a sprint."
Recognizing that a membership invitation "will not take place
in the near future," the GOU will devote itself to bringing
Ukrainian forces up to NATO standards and contributing to
NATO missions. The goal is to make Ukraine's eventual
membership "indispensable" to the Alliance. Yekhanurov urged
that NATO de-couple Ukraine's candidacy from that of Georgia.
On public opinion, Yekhanurov admitted that the GOU had
alienated many in Eastern Ukraine buy pushing too hard on the
use of the Ukrainian language. MOD is working to improve its
public relations in the East and South, and seeks to increase
its information campaign using Russian language materials.
End Summary.

MOD Investing in Sevastopol
--------------


2. (C) With the Ambassador in Sevastopol for the visit of a
US guided missile frigate, the USS Klakring, Defense Minister
Yuriy Yekhanurov invited him March 27 to the headquarters of
the Ukrainian Black Sea Fleet. Unlike the Russian Black Sea
Fleet (BSF),which is headquartered among historic buildings
flying Russian flags in the center of Sevastopol, the
Ukrainian BSF headquarters lies about 15 minutes out of town
in a run-down area. Yekhanurov told the Ambassador he
traveled to Crimea quarterly. Despite political differences
with the "not pro-Ukrainian" elected Crimean leadership,
Yekhanurov said that the Ukrainian fleet had good working
relations with local authorities on practical matters.


3. (C) One of these matters is housing. Yekhanurov stressed
that MOD had made housing for the Ukrainian BSF a top
priority. He observed that in 2008, for the first time
since independence, the GOU built more housing units for its
naval forces than did the Russian BSF. This trend will only
grow as Russia cuts back on construction. Planned Russian
BSF cuts in support staff and military personnel contrasted
with increased GOU engagement. Yekhanurov noted, for
example, that in 2009, the MOD would open a military high
school in Sevastopol, the first of its type outside Kyiv.
This would not only demonstrate GOU commitment to its BSF,

but would also generate hundreds of jobs at a time when
Russia is cutting back.

Realism on NATO Accession
--------------


4. (C) Yekhanurov emphasized that NATO membership remains
Ukraine's goal. However, he said the GOU understands that
membership "will not take place in the near future." The
Ukrainian leadership is well aware that given the opposition
of France and others, it is "difficult" to discuss Ukraine's
accession now. In addition, with presidential elections
coming in Ukraine, the GOU itself needs to "remove tensions"
associated with its push for NATO membership.


5. (C) As a result, Yekhanurov said, the GOU will focus on
practical matters: bringing Ukraine's military up to NATO
standards and participating in as many NATO exercises and
missions as possible. MOD seeks to demonstrate to Ukrainian
public opinion that NATO accession will mean modernization of
the military, such as adopting a brigade based system. He
praised US assistance in helping Ukraine move toward
interoperability. He noted US support for the NCO Academy in
Kharkiv, and commended the recent visit to the Academy of the
Sergeant Major of the Army.

"Indispensable"
--------------


6. (C) Ukraine's goal is to build up practical cooperation
with NATO until Ukraine's accession becomes "indispensable."
The GOU would look for ways to show it brings special
capabilities to the Alliance, such as strategic lift. It has
already shown what advantages it can offer in the case of
providing Denmark with lift capacity for Greenland. NATO
members will see that they will be better off with Ukraine in
NATO.

Separate NATO Candidacies of Georgia and Ukraine
-------------- ---


7. (C) Yekhanurov said that the GOU recognized NATO
accession was now a "marathon, not a sprint." With 2008's
push for a MAP over, Ukraine now seeks NATO's de-coupling of
the candidacies of Ukraine and Georgia. Quoting Tolstoy,
Yekhanurov observed that "every unhappy family is unhappy in
its own way." It is best to "disconnect" Ukraine from
Georgia, and let each pursue its own candidacy.

Public Affairs/Use of Russian Language
--------------


8. (C) Yekhanurov admitted the GOU's push for the use of the
Ukrainian language had contributed to public affairs
difficulties for MOD by alienating Russian speakers in
Eastern and Southern Ukraine. Russian speakers should be
considered no less patriotic to Ukraine than Ukrainian
speakers, Yekhanurov declared. He noted that Donbass in the
east, a pro-Russian region, had evolved. Yanukovych was
twice elected as PM, demonstrating that the Donbass elite
have bought in to the Ukrainian state. The situation in
Crimea is different, and there is considerable education to
do. If the GOU distributes materials in Ukrainian, as it has
done, the material will not be read. MOD now seeks to
support Russian language newspapers and TV which can give a
balanced analysis of the situation. MOD is setting up an
information department to increase its engagement with the
mass media in the Russian language, particularly in Crimea.

Comment
--------------


9. (C) Yekhanurov's realism is encouraging. He is
Yushchenko's man and speaks authoritatively for the
President. NATO accession and the public anxiety about
problems with Russia it engenders are issues the President
appears to prefer not to highlight given upcoming elections.
We reiterated, and Yekhanurov took on board, that the door to
membership remains open. Yekhanurov did not use the occasion
to express angst about Ukraine being left out in the cold.
Judging from Yekhanurov, we expect a realistic GOU reaction
to the summit.


TAYLOR