{
  "id": "RL30984",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL30984",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 100413,
      "date": "2004-02-27",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-08T14:26:33.961159",
      "title": "Ukraine: Background and U.S. Policy",
      "summary": "Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, many Western analysts have viewed a stable,\nindependent and sovereign Ukraine as a key element in European security, pointing to its size,\nstrategic location and economic potential. Those who are concerned about Russia's motives and\ngoals in the region see an independent Ukraine as a guarantee against the revival of a Russian empire\nthat would threaten the security of central Europe. Conversely, analysts worry that a weak or unstable\nUkraine could fall under Russian domination or become a focus of conflict between Russia and the\nWest. The spillover effects of crime, illegal immigration and other problems from an unstable\nUkraine could hurt other countries in the region. Ukraine continues to undergo a difficult transition\nfrom communism to democracy and a free market economy. It is also undergoing a related search\nfor its international identity, whether as an independent central European state or as a state closely\naligned with Russia, with which most of Ukraine has close linguistic, cultural and historic ties. \n  A series of recent events have clouded Ukraine's relationship with the United States. In\nNovember 2000, an audio tape produced by a former bodyguard of Ukrainian President Leonid\nKuchma purportedly captured Kuchma's orders to top officials to neutralize independent journalist\nGeorgiy Gongadze, whose headless, mutilated body had been found by police. In September 2002,\nthe United States authenticated another tape which implicated Kuchma in the possible sale of\nsophisticated anti-aircraft radars to Iraq. These incidents led to a deterioration of U.S.-Ukrainian\nties. However, relations improved in 2003, when Ukraine deployed 1650 troops to Iraq as part of\na Polish-led peacekeeping force.\n  However, despite recent setbacks, there is a consensus among U.S. policymakers that a strong,\nmulti-faceted relationship with a stable, democratic, prosperous and sovereign Ukraine, integrated\nwith Europe and the wider world, is key to Europe's stability, a vital U.S. interest. The United States\nhas tried to bolster Ukraine with political support and over $3 billion in U.S. aid from FY 1992 to\nFY 2001, although aid has declined in recent years. U.S. policy has had notable successes,\nparticularly in the areas of security policy and nuclear safety. Achievements since Ukraine's\nindependence in political and economic reform have been significant, but U.S. policymakers have\noften been frustrated by Ukraine's slowness to reform and fight corruption. Congressional support\nhas remained consistent despite Ukraine's troubles. \n  Ukraine's current problems raise important issues for U.S. policy. One problem is how to deal\nwith President Kuchma and the opposition to his rule. More broadly, the United States must decide\nhow to better support the building of the political, economic and social infrastructure that will\nprovide a foundation for democracy, rule of law and a market economy in the long term. Another\nproblem U.S. policymakers face is how to support Ukraine's sovereignty and independence and\npromote closer ties with the West. Efforts could include helping reduce Ukraine's energy\ndependency on Russia, and promoting greater security ties with the United States and NATO, in the\nface of possible Russian pressure against such a relationship.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
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      "topics": []
    }
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  "topics": [
    "Foreign Affairs"
  ]
}