Records on U.S. Recognition of Ukraine

The materials in FOIA 2000-1198-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. 2000-1198-F 1 FOIA 2000-1198-F contains material related to the United State's interaction with Ukraine during and after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Ukrainian referendum on independence. With the deterioration of the political strength of the Soviet Union, the republics of the USSR began seeking more independence from Moscow. As early as July 16, 1990, the Ukrainian parliament declared the Ukrainian republic to be a sovereign state. After the unsuccessful August coup attempt the following year, Ukraine declared itself an independent nation. On December 1, 1991, an overwhelming majority of Ukrainians voted for independence and elected Leonid Kravchuk as the first president of Ukraine. On Christmas Day 1991, the United States announced its formal recognition of Ukraine as a sovereign nation. This FOIA request specifically sought all documents related to the Bush administration's discussions in the fall of 1991 concerning recognition of Ukraine as an independent country. However, few documents were located that dealt directly with the issue of recognition. The majority of folders pertaining to Ukraine in no way relates to such discussions, and therefore remains unprocessed. Those files that were processed contained a broad array of documents related to Ukraine and its transformation from a republic of the Soviet Union to an independent country with full diplomatic ties to the United States. The Staff and Office Files contain basic background and historical information about Ukraine, cables and reports on the evolving political, military, and economic situation, and profiles of the current and potential leaders. Press releases, head-of-state correspondence, and memoranda of conversations between Ukrainian and American officials record the evolving relationship between the two states. Of particular concern to the Bush administration during this period was the position of Ukraine on military matters, particularly the presence of large numbers of nuclear weapons on its soil and the Ukrainian position on the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). Other issues include Ukrainian participation in the United Nations, the development of a democratic system of government and the transformation to a market economy, and Ukrainian relations with other European countries and former Soviet republics, particularly with Russia. Read less