Ukraine's Flawed Nuclear Diplomacy

I n December 1991, U.S. Secretary of State James Baker visited Kiev to consult with the leaders of newly independent Ukraine. Nuclear weapons figured prominently in these discussions. President Leonid Kravchuk of Ukraine agreed that the withdrawal of Soviet tactical nuclear weapons from Ukrainian soil would commence immediately; and he assured Secretary of State Baker that Ukraine was firmly committed to becoming a non-nuclear weapon state. The American delegation left Ukraine feeling that the visit had been a success and that the nuclear weapons issue had been addressed in a satisfactory fashion.1 After this relatively promising beginning, however, the road has been far from smooth. To be sure, Ukrainian leaders have on numerous occasions reiterated the pledge to denuclearize. But the period since December 1991 has not witnessed the final resolution of the denuclearization issue in Ukraine, and Kiev’s ultimate nuclear status remains in doubt.

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