Trump’s America: What has Ukraine got and What to Expect

On January 20^th the World summarizes the first year of the Donald Trump’s presidency. We should also analyze the results of Ukraine-US relations. A year ago the atmosphere of panic prevailed in Kyiv when Trump took an oath of office of President of the United States. The Ukrainian government «put eggs in one basket» — the US presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton. In addition, this shortsightedness barely cost Ukraine the loss of US support.

Фото: Twitter/@PressSec

I already said — do not be afraid of Trump, it is worth building a partnership. Donald Trump is a determined pragmatic politician who can bring back hope for peace to Ukraine. The United States understand the importance of the «Ukrainian question». They understand that without stable Ukraine there is no possibility for stable Europe. After all, Ukraine is the Eastern Gates of Europe. If we let the flame go further, it will come very close to the borders of the NATO countries. It is clear both for Donald Trump and for the American establishment, which very closely follows the Ukrainian vector of the policy of President of the United States.

This year showed us that despite all the caveats, in the form of the American president we got more reliable partner than even in the time of cautious Obama. And though Trump does not hide that he hopes for much greater involvement of Europe in resolving the «Ukrainian issue», his position today sounds clear — «now I’m completely for Ukraine». And, we should give credit, despite all domestic political vicissitudes, the US is consistent in supporting the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine’s borders.

Positive signs

During the year of Trump’s presidency, Ukraine not only appeared in the political orbit of the White House, but also took a place that did not have even under Barack Obama’s presidency.

Firstly, the decision on the provision of defense armaments to Kyiv, adopted in December last year, was the step that the Obama administration did not dare to do.

Secondly, despite the expectations of the Kremlin, the warming in bilateral relations did not happen. We see Russia’s recognition of a rival that threatens the security and prosperity of America, as enunciated in the new «National Security Strategy of the United States». We see waves of additional sanctions and the confiscation of diplomatic complexes. All this clearly shows the disparity of Russian hopes, on the background of which last year’s euphoria of Russian propagandists looks quite funny.

Thirdly, staffing changes in the team of the American President also speak for strengthening the pro-Ukrainian positions. The introduction of the post of US Special Representative on Ukraine and the appointment of an uncompromising Kurt Volcker clearly explains the importance of the «Ukrainian issue» in the US priorities system. Similarly, the appointment of the National Security Advisor to Lieutenant-General Herbert Reymond McMaster and US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, who is well-known for his pro-Ukrainian position, points to the immutability of the position.

At the same time, we should not relax and rely on non-appeals support without our active work. It should be borne in mind that Donald Trump’s rhetoric does not exclude from the need for dialogue and rapprochement with Russia. And I remind you that while Ukraine has not been able to achieve direct US involvement in the negotiation process.

The role of public democracy

It is not necessary to hurry up with conclusions — that the sequence of US support is the achievement of the Ukrainian authorities. First of all, it is the merit of the entire Ukrainian society and the victory of the healthy pragmatism of American politics. America understands — Ukraine today defends the borders of the whole of Europe, not allowing the Kremlin to completely destroy the entire architectonic world security. And the Ukrainian people build bridges of friendship, at least official diplomacy. I have made many trips to the United States myself to hold meetings with the American establishment in order to find the ways to return all occupied territories and to ensure peace in the East of Ukraine. In the course of these meetings, there was always a question — the implementation of reforms in Ukraine. And I clearly see that understanding the same land reform and the change in electoral legislation is far from what the Ukrainian authorities want to railroad. Working with American political forces, we show a different level of Ukrainian policy — a responsible policy, a policy based on the principles of honesty, transparency and patriotism.

The failures of Ukrainian politics

It is the «game» in reformation that has become a stumbling block for the development of bilateral relations. The further, the more irritation is caused by the manipulation of the Ukrainian authorities. Ukraine is risking losing the expected world support, because the world more and more suffers Ukrainian fatigue. The lack of progress in the creation of the Anti-Corruption Court, the constant conflicts of the law-enforcers with anti-corruption bodies, unfulfilled promises on international obligations, reforms that are carried out only under the maximum external pressure — all this undermines confidence in the government and strengthens the positions of the pro-Russian lobby, which is extremely active today.

If we want to continue receive support from the United States, we must demonstrate a genuine partnership that is built on mutual interest and on specific success stories: the success of the fight against corruption, the success of the implementation of real reforms, the success of creating an attractive investment climate. And the indicators of this success are not the number of anti-corruption bodies created, whose activities are blocked by the nearest surrounding of the President — but the quality of the anti-corruption struggle, the number of detained bribes, the creation of the Anticorruption Court — at last! Today, the American Ambassador speaks directly — until there is no Anticorruption Court — the investor will not come. No one is invested in the country’s economy, which is the leader in bribery and corruption ratings.

Cooperation tasks

America is extremely pragmatic country. Here it is worth recalling the quite logical question of Rex Tillerson «Why Ukraine should be interested in the American taxpayer?» And in this matter the interests of American politicians are fully justified — every government, each government is responsible to its people. And in civilized societies, election programs and slogans are not just beautiful words that are forgotten when they come to power. This is a commitment that is fulfilled and should be fulfilled in future. And this is another lesson to be learned by the Ukrainian authorities.

Only security interests may not be enough for the United States to build a full-fledged partnership. We need to look for cooperation levers that will lead it to another, much deeper, mutually beneficial level. And this, above all, economic interests, is the creation of an attractive investment climate, the encouragement of American investors, which simultaneously will raise the security component to another, much higher level.

We have something to offer. This is also our role in ensuring world food security, which can be much higher if the Ukrainian authorities cease to destroy their own producer — the agrarians. This is a partnership in the energy sector, related to the extraction of carbohydrates and the development of shale gas. This is both nuclear energy and alternative energy. This is a titanium business, as Ukraine owns one of the world’s largest explored deposits of titanium, which can almost exclusively deprive the United States of its critical titanic dependence on Russia.

Vitaliy Skotsyk, Economist, Leader of the Agrarian Party of Ukraine

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