Ukraine Happy Over U.S. Shift; Kremlin Is Cool

Ukrainians on Thursday warmly welcomed Washington’s new readiness to recognize the statehood of their homeland, but the Kremlin reacted coolly to the news that the Bush Administration seems to be prepared to support the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

“What has been shattered cannot be glued back together, and it is senseless to try,” said Victor Burlakov, a leader of the Ukrainian grass-roots nationalist movement Rukh. “Some politicians in the West still see things through the spectacles of the past, but this decision (by Washington) is a wise and farsighted step.”

The Administration decided Tuesday that it will recognize Ukrainian statehood if, as expected, the Ukrainian people vote for independence from the Soviet Union in a referendum scheduled Sunday, according to U.S. officials.

The move would represent a dramatic shift in policy for President Bush, who until now has stressed relations with the central government of Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev over relations with the republics.

But in Moscow, Soviet officials cautioned the United States against making moves that could hasten the breakup of the Soviet Union and hence cause “dramatic consequences” here and abroad.

“In view of the present level of relations between the two countries and numerous official statements that the United States will not be adopting attitudes to such internal affairs of the Soviet Union until the republics arrive at final decisions, this report is surprising,” declared a statement from Gorbachev’s press office, according to the Soviet news agency Tass.

Vitaly I. Churkin, the Soviet Foreign Ministry’s spokesman, implied that the Kremlin would regard quick recognition of Ukrainian statehood by the United States as an attempt to undermine current efforts to establish a new union treaty governing relations among the Soviet republics.

“No steps have yet been made (by foreign governments) that could be interpreted as a wish to push the process forward or overtake this process,” Churkin told reporters at a news briefing. “I think it would be in the interest of everyone to preserve this balanced position.”

Churkin warned that “the processes going on in our country are extremely complex, and the undermining of these processes would lead to very dramatic consequences that would have direct impact on many countries.”

A close aide of Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze said the new U.S. posture toward the Ukraine could significantly hinder Gorbachev’s attempts to forge a new union because it would encourage the second-richest Soviet republic to go it alone.

“Quick recognition from the United States could persuade the Ukraine that there is no reason for it to participate in a new union treaty,” said Sergei P. Tarasenko, Shevardnadze’s longtime right-hand man. “But I do not deny the right of the United States or other countries to decide to recognize Ukrainian independence.”

The apparent 180-degree turn in Bush’s policy on Ukrainian independence was seen by both Ukrainian and Russian officials as a significant step

When Bush visited Kiev in early August, he warned Ukrainian political leaders that to break off from Moscow would be “suicidal,” a statement that angered Ukrainian nationalists.

“If we had the last empire in the world and it is dying a natural death, then why is the American government trying to revive the corpse?” Mikhailo Horyn, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and a top leader of Rukh, said in a recent interview. “We all understand that even a dying crocodile can break your leg with his tail.”

The new stance toward the Ukraine, however, could bolster the republic’s independence drive. Even without the news from Washington, recent polls showed that as many as 72% of Ukrainians are likely to vote Sunday in favor of independence.

“In my personal opinion, the information about a probable recognition by the United States will help (produce) a favorable outcome,” said Eduard Pershyn, a spokesman for Ukrainian Prime Minister Vitold P. Fokin. “Now, people will be increasingly convinced that only in conditions of authentic independence can the Ukraine get out of its economic dead end and occupy its rightful place among nations of the world.”

Recognition by the United States and other countries such as Canada and members of the European Community is regarded here as a precious contribution to ending the Ukraine’s neocolonial relations with its largest and most powerful neighbor, Russia.

“Recognition would surely have an impact on the Ukraine’s young democracy,” said Adam Voitovich, spokesman for the Ukrainian Parliament. “Obviously, this will give us more confidence in dealing with Russia and the center, if we have the feeling that we have our own state, one that even the United States recognizes.

“This will call forth pride in most people. I believe that this will have a significant effect on the political consciousness of all the people of the Ukraine because some were pessimistic about the lack of Western support.”

Officials of the Russian government and Parliament commented that the new U.S. policy could be a good sign for them, too.

“We may well take it as a prerequisite for a new approach of the United States toward the Russian Federation too,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Kunadze said.

Yevgeny M. Kozhokin, chairman of a subcommittee of international affairs in the Russian legislature, said the new posture shows that the Bush Administration is adjusting to the real shift of power taking place in the Soviet Union.

Dahlburg reported from Kiev and Shogren reported from Moscow.