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Ukraine

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Last reviewed: 19 November 2009

 

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Ukraine's relations with neighbours

Russia

A major breakthrough in Russia-Ukraine relations occurred in May 1997 when Presidents Yeltsin and Kuchma signed an agreement on the Black Sea Fleet, whereby Ukraine undertook to lease the harbour of Sevastopol to Russia until 2017. The presidents also signed a Bilateral Treaty on Friendship and Co-operation, recognising each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity within their existing borders. In February 2003, the two countries agreed on the delimitation of their land border. However, this left the Azov Sea border undelimited and in October 2003 a dispute flared over Ukraine's possession of Tuzla Island in the Kerch Strait, which links the Azov and Black Seas. The two sides signed a framework agreement on the Kerch Strait in December 2003, controlling the entry of naval vessels of other states. This was ratified by the respective parliaments in April 2004, although negotiations on the precise location of the maritime borders continue.

President Putin's backing for President Yushchenko's opponent in the 2004 Presidential election and Yushchenko's pro-EU and NATO policies have strained Ukraine's relations with Russia. Nevertheless, Yushchenko made Moscow his first overseas visit after his inauguration as President, and President Putin made return visits to Ukraine in March 2005 and December 2006. A forum known as the Putin-Yushchenko Commission was established in March 2005 to facilitate regular dialogue. 

A priority for successive Governments has been to reach agreement with Russia on the supply of gas to Ukraine. This has become more acute following disputes in late 2005, early 2006, March 2008 and January 2009, which saw supplies interrupted.

Poland

Poland was the first country to recognise Ukraine's independence and in 1992 Poland and Ukraine signed a Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation, renouncing territorial claims and confirming the inviolability of their frontiers. Poland sees itself as Ukraine's best ambassador to Euro-Atlantic institutions (e.g. Poland lobbied for Ukrainian membership in the Council of Europe), and Ukraine welcomes Polish support for its European aspirations. Ukrainian troops in Iraq served in the Polish-led part of the multinational force.

The role played by then President Kwasniewski in helping to facilitate a resolution to Ukraine's political crisis in 2004 and Polish support for Ukraine's aspiration to join the EU have further strengthened this relationship.

In April 2007, UEFA announced that Ukraine and Poland would jointly host the European Football Championships in 2012.

Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova (GUAM)

Ukraine has been a leading member of GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) since 1996 and has played an active part in its development. GUAM states seek to co-operate on economic and democratic development. At a summit meeting in Kyiv in May 2006 GUAM leaders agreed to turn it into a formal regional organisation (Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development) with a Secretariat based in Kyiv. Uzbekistan, which joined the group for a few years, left in 2005.

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Ukraine is formally only an associate member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and sees the CIS's future more as a framework for strengthening bilateral economic ties than as a forum for promoting closer political integration. Ukraine has not signed the CIS Charter and does not participate in all aspects of its regional arrangements, such as the Customs Union. Nor is Ukraine a member of the CIS Collective Security Treaty.

Ukraine's relations with the international community

EU

Integration with the EU is a priority for Ukraine and the reform programme it is pursuing is based around bringing Ukraine closer to the EU. The foundation of the EU-Ukraine relationship is the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA), which came into force on 1 March 1998. This provides a framework for political dialogue, trade and investment links and co-operation on a wide range of other issues. The PCA also establishes a forum for regular high-level political and working-level official meetings, including annual summits.

The EU and Ukraine concluded an Action Plan as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy on 21 February 2005. Under the Action Plan Ukraine committed to implement a range of economic and political reforms in return for which the EU offered Ukraine closer relations. In light of progress made (notably the conduct of the March 2006 elections) the EU agreed to begin negotiations on a new enhanced Agreement to replace the PCA. Negotiations on the new Agreement began on 6 February 2007.

The EU-Ukraine Summit in Paris on 9 September 2008 marked a further step forward in relations. Leaders at the Summit recognised Ukraine as a European country with shared history and values, acknowledged Ukraine’s European aspirations, welcomed Ukraine’s European choice and agreed that the New Enhanced Agreement being negotiated to replace the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement would be called an Association Agreement. Leaders also agreed to launch a visa dialogue, developing the conditions for a visa-free regime between the EU and Ukraine as a long-term perspective.

On 12 December 2008, the European Council welcomed proposals for an ‘Eastern Partnership’ aimed at significantly strengthening EU policy with regard to the Eastern partners of the European Neighbourhood Policy in a bilateral and multilateral framework. The ‘Eastern Partnership’ was launched at a summit meeting with the partner countries in Prague on 7 May 2009.

In May 2009, the EU and Ukraine concluded an Association Agenda to replace the 2005 European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan. The Association Agenda is intended to act as a reform tool in much the same way as the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan. The Association Agenda will also prepare for and facilitate the early implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement currently being negotiated, through agreement on concrete steps towards attainment of its objectives.

WTO

Ukraine acceded to the WTO on 16 May. The United Kingdom has been impressed by the commitment shown by Ukraine to joining the WTO and the recognition of the benefits that will accrue to Ukraine from joining the WTO’s rules-based international trading system.

NATO

Ukraine announced in May 2002 that it was seeking to join NATO. The NATO-Ukraine relationship is based on The Charter on a Distinctive Partnership, signed in Madrid in 1997. This set out principles for developing NATO-Ukraine relations, possible areas for co-operation and consultation, and established mechanisms for managing the relationship, including the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC). Ukraine has enhanced its participation in the Partnership for Peace (PfP): Ukrainian troops are serving side-by-side with NATO in Kosovo, and Ukraine has contributed to the NATO Training Mission in Iraq, provided logistical support to NATO's contribution in Darfur and stated its intent to support Active Endeavour, NATO's counter-terrorist operation in the Mediterranean. In addition, NATO and Ukraine have established a NATO Information Office in Kyiv, designated Ukraine's Yavoriv manoeuvre range as a PfP training centre (the first such outside NATO territory), established a Joint Working Group on Defence Reform, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Civil Emergency Planning. In response to Ukraine's wish for a closer relationship, a NATO-Ukraine Action Plan was announced at the Prague Summit in November 2002. In April 2005 NATO launched an Intensified Dialogue on Ukraine's membership aspirations.

On 15 January 2008, President Yushchenko, Prime Minister Tymoshenko and Speaker of Parliament Yatsenyuk, co-signed a letter to the NATO Secretary General requesting a Membership Action Plan (MAP) and seeking a 'positive response' to their request at the NATO Summit in Bucharest in April 2008. The summit communiqué welcomed Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership, gave a clear commitment that Ukraine would become a member of the alliance, agreed to begin a period of extensive engagement to address the outstanding questions relating to Ukraine’s MAP application and asked NATO Foreign Ministers to make a first assessment of progress at their December 2008 meeting.

On 3 December, NATO Foreign Ministers reaffirmed 'all elements of the decisions regarding Ukraine' made in Bucharest and concluded that Ukraine had 'significant work left to do'. Allies decided therefore to enhance opportunities for assisting Ukraine in these efforts, making use of the framework of the existing NATO-Ukraine Commission – without prejudice to further decisions which must be taken about MAP. Ministers also agreed that the NATO information and liaison offices Ukraine would be reinforced, and an Annual National Programme developed allowing for annual reviews by NATO Allies.

Ukraine has pledged to improve understanding about NATO within Ukraine, where public opinion is low.

Peacekeeping

Ukraine remains a willing multilateral contributor to peace support operations and is open to providing operational access to NATO countries, as well as the use of its training areas. Ukraine is the only non-NATO member contributing to every one of NATO’s current operations. Ukraine has good capability in Nuclear Biological Chemical defence. Its airlift capability is a potential asset to multinational operations. President Yushchenko announced Ukraine’s inclusion in the UK-France led initiative to support helicopter capability upgrades and pilot training when he visited London in May and October 2008.

During the Iraq conflict in 2003 Ukraine deployed a nuclear, biological and chemical battalion to Kuwait. In August 2003 Ukraine deployed some 1,650 troops to Iraq as a major contribution to post-conflict stabilisation and later increased this to 1,800. The troops handed over to Iraqi battalions and withdrew by the end of December 2005, though Ukraine has continued to support Iraq's post-conflict stabilisation with 50 security sector trainers. In May 2004 Ukraine deployed 370 personnel to support the UN peacekeeping operation in Liberia. Ukraine also participates in operations in Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and the Balkans and is now one of the largest European contributors towards peacekeeping operations. In early 2007 the Ukrainian Navy joined NATO's counter-terrorist operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR in the Mediterranean.

UK

The UK's relations with Ukraine

The UK Consulate-General in Kyiv opened in November 1991 and became an Embassy in January 1992. Ukraine opened an Embassy in London in October 1992 and a Consulate General in Edinburgh in February 2002.

UK development assistance

At the end of March 2008, the Department for International Development (DfID) closed its bilateral programme in Ukraine. This marked the end of 17 years of aid - a period which has seen Ukraine make real progress in areas such as reducing poverty, strengthening democracy, and increasing opportunities for trade. Further details about DfID’s work in Ukraine, and the UK’s continuing work in support of Ukraine’s development, on the Department for International Development website.

The UK contributes to the EU's Assistance programmes. The EU is the largest donor in Ukraine. Most of the EU’s funding comes from the €11.2 billion European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) which allocates over €124 million annually to Ukraine.

The UK is also providing £540,000 worth of assistance in 2008-09 through the FCO's Strategic Priorities Fund.

Chernobyl

Information about international assistance can be found on the BERR website.

Cultural relations with the UK

The British Council opened in Ukraine in 1992 and operates centres in five cities there: Kyiv, Odessa, Donetsk, L'viv and Kharkiv. The BBC estimates that more than 2 million Ukrainians tune in every day to its Ukrainian service and that over 20% of 'educated opinion-formers' do so regularly.

Recent visits

Inward

President Yushchenko visited the UK in October 2005 and met Her Majesty the Queen and the Prime Minister, Tony Blair. The Queen presented President Yushchenko with the Inaugural Chatham House Statesman of the Year award. President Yushchenko paid further visits to the UK in May 2008, October 2008 and January 2009 and met Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street. Following the May 2008 meeting, a joint statement was issued. Foreign Minister Ohryzko visited the UK in March 2008 for discussions with the Foreign Secretary. 

Outward

During the UK presidency of the EU, Tony Blair visited Kyiv for the ninth EU-Ukraine Summit on 1 December 2005, with President Barroso and HR Solana, where they met President Yushchenko. President Yushchenko and Prime Minister Tony Blair also had a bilateral meeting after the NATO-Ukraine Summit in Brussels on 22 February 2006. The Prime Minister had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Yanukovych at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos on 27 January 2007. The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, visited Ukraine on 27 August 2008. Minister for Europe, Caroline Flint, visited Ukraine on 3-4 December 2008. HRH The Duke of York visited Ukraine in June 2006 and October 2008.

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Contacts

Ukraine, Kyiv, British Embassy

Address:

British Embassy
9 Desyatynna St.
Kyiv 01025

Consular/Visa Section:
Artyom Business Centre
4, Glybochytska St.
Kyiv 04050

Telephone:


Fax:

+380 44 490 3662: General
+380 44 494 3418: Visa/Consular

Office hours:

Mon-Fri: 09:00-13:00/14:00-17:00 (Local Time = GMT+2)

Website: http://ukinukraine.fco.gov.uk/en

Ukraine, Kiev, British Council