Commonwealth of Independent States (cis)

Ukraine is formally only an associate member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and sees the CIS's future more as a framework for strengthening bilateral economic ties than as a forum for promoting closer political integration. Ukraine has not signed the CIS Charter and does not participate in all aspects of its regional arrangements, such as the Customs Union. Nor is Ukraine a member of the CIS Collective Security Treaty.

Ukraine's relations with the international community

EU

Integration with the EU is a priority for Ukraine and the reform programme it is pursuing is based around bringing Ukraine closer to the EU. The foundation of the EU-Ukraine relationship is the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA), which came into force on 1 March 1998. This provides a framework for political dialogue, trade and investment links and co-operation on a wide range of other issues. The PCA also establishes a forum for regular high-level political and working-level official meetings, including annual summits.

The EU and Ukraine concluded an Action Plan as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy on 21 February 2005. Under the Action Plan Ukraine committed to implement a range of economic and political reforms in return for which the EU offered Ukraine closer relations. In light of progress made (notably the conduct of the March 2006 elections) the EU agreed to begin negotiations on a new enhanced Agreement to replace the PCA. Negotiations on the new Agreement began on 6 February 2007.

The EU-Ukraine Summit in Paris on 9 September 2008 marked a further step forward in relations. Leaders at the Summit recognised Ukraine as a European country with shared history and values, acknowledged Ukraine’s European aspirations, welcomed Ukraine’s European choice and agreed that the New Enhanced Agreement being negotiated to replace the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement would be called an Association Agreement. Leaders also agreed to launch a visa dialogue, developing the conditions for a visa-free regime between the EU and Ukraine as a long-term perspective.

On 12 December 2008, the European Council welcomed proposals for an ‘Eastern Partnership’ aimed at significantly strengthening EU policy with regard to the Eastern partners of the European Neighbourhood Policy in a bilateral and multilateral framework. The ‘Eastern Partnership’ was launched at a summit meeting with the partner countries in Prague on 7 May 2009.

In May 2009, the EU and Ukraine concluded an Association Agenda to replace the 2005 European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan. The Association Agenda is intended to act as a reform tool in much the same way as the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan. The Association Agenda will also prepare for and facilitate the early implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement currently being negotiated, through agreement on concrete steps towards attainment of its objectives.

WTO

Ukraine acceded to the WTO on 16 May. The United Kingdom has been impressed by the commitment shown by Ukraine to joining the WTO and the recognition of the benefits that will accrue to Ukraine from joining the WTO’s rules-based international trading system.

NATO

Ukraine announced in May 2002 that it was seeking to join NATO. The NATO-Ukraine relationship is based on The Charter on a Distinctive Partnership, signed in Madrid in 1997. This set out principles for developing NATO-Ukraine relations, possible areas for co-operation and consultation, and established mechanisms for managing the relationship, including the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC). Ukraine has enhanced its participation in the Partnership for Peace (PfP): Ukrainian troops are serving side-by-side with NATO in Kosovo and Afghanistan, and Ukraine has contributed to the NATO Training Mission in Iraq, provided logistical support to NATO's contribution in Darfur and completed a deployment with Active Endeavour, NATO's counter-terrorist operation in the Mediterranean. In addition, NATO and Ukraine have established a NATO Information Office in Kyiv, designated Ukraine's Yavoriv manoeuvre range as a PfP training centre (the first such outside NATO territory), established a Joint Working Group on Defence Reform, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Civil Emergency Planning. In response to Ukraine's wish for a closer relationship, a NATO-Ukraine Action Plan was announced at the Prague Summit in November 2002. In April 2005 NATO launched an Intensified Dialogue on Ukraine's membership aspirations.

On 15 January 2008, President Yushchenko, Prime Minister Tymoshenko and Speaker of Parliament Yatsenyuk, co-signed a letter to the NATO Secretary General requesting a Membership Action Plan (MAP) and seeking a 'positive response' to their request at the NATO Summit in Bucharest in April 2008. At the Bucharest Summit, NATO Heads of State and Government welcomed Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership and gave a clear commitment that Ukraine would become a member of the alliance. They also agreed to begin a period of extensive engagement to address the outstanding questions relating to Ukraine’s MAP application.

On 3 December 2008, NATO Foreign Ministers reaffirmed 'all elements of the decisions regarding Ukraine' made in Bucharest and concluded that Ukraine had 'significant work left to do'. Allies decided therefore - without prejudice to further decisions which must be taken about MAP - to offer a package of assistance to help Ukraine in these efforts. A key element of this assistance was the Annual National Programme, on which Allies assess Ukraine’s progress annually.

A “Declaration to Complement the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine” was signed on 21 August 2009 to follow up on the decisions taken in April and December 2008. It gives the NUC a central role in deepening political dialogue and co-operation, and in underpinning Ukraine’s reform efforts pertaining to its membership aspirations, including through the ANP.

Ukrainian policy shifted following the presidential election of February 2010.  President Yanukovych advocates a policy of non-bloc status for Ukraine, while at the same time supporting a strengthened partnership between Ukraine and NATO through the ANP.

Peacekeeping

Ukraine remains a willing multilateral contributor to peace support operations and is open to providing operational access to NATO countries, as well as the use of its training areas. Ukraine is the only non-NATO member contributing to every one of NATO’s current operations. Ukraine has good capability in Nuclear Biological Chemical defence. Its airlift capability is a potential asset to multinational operations. President Yushchenko announced Ukraine’s inclusion in the UK-France led initiative to support helicopter capability upgrades and pilot training when he visited London in May and October 2008.

During the Iraq conflict in 2003 Ukraine deployed a nuclear, biological and chemical battalion to Kuwait. In August 2003 Ukraine deployed some 1,650 troops to Iraq as a major contribution to post-conflict stabilisation and later increased this to 1,800. The troops handed over to Iraqi battalions and withdrew by the end of December 2005, though Ukraine has continued to support Iraq's post-conflict stabilisation with 50 security sector trainers. In May 2004 Ukraine deployed 370 personnel to support the UN peacekeeping operation in Liberia. Ukraine also participates in operations in Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and the Balkans and is now one of the largest European contributors towards peacekeeping operations. In early 2007 the Ukrainian Navy joined NATO's counter-terrorist operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR in the Mediterranean.

UK