Forging diplomatic ties: United States recognizes Ukraine, plans to establish diplomatic relations (12/29/91)

Forging diplomatic ties

United States recognizes Ukraine, plans to establish diplomatic relations

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Within hours of the formal resignation of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, the United States recognized the independence of Ukraine, one of the founding states of the new Commonwealth of Independent States.

U.S. President George Bush, satisfied with assurances on nuclear safety, democracy, and free markets he had received from the former republics, announced, in a televised speech and a written statement issued on December 25, that the United States would establish diplomatic relations with Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Kyrgystan.

He said that diplomatic relations with the other republics - Moldova, Turkmenistan, Azerbaidzhan, Tadzhikistan and Uzbekistan, all members of the new Commonwealth, and with Georgia, the sole republic that has refused to join the Commonwealth, would come "when they are found to comply with principles of democratic rule and human rights."

In his address, Mr. Bush noted that Washington would accept Russia as successor to the Soviet Union as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

President Bush prefaced his announcement of recognition, saying that "during these last few months, you and I have witnessed one of the greatest dramas of the 20th century - the historic and revolutionary transformation of a totalitarian dictatorship, the Soviet Union, and the liberation of its peoples," noting that "new independent nations have emerged out of the wreckage of the Soviet Empire."

For its part, the European Community said in a statement from the Netherlands that it will speed up the establishment of diplomatic ties with the new states.

Britain, the Netherlands, Israel and the European Community said that they recognize the Russian Federation as the legal successor to the Soviet Union. Canada announced that it would establish diplomatic relations immediately with Russia.

As regards the establishment of embassies in the new national capitals, an administration official said that, in the case of Ukraine, the logistics involved would be relatively easy, given the presence of an already functioning consulate.