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Kerry and Russian Counterpart Meet on Ukraine Crisis Kerry and Russian Counterpart Meet on Ukraine Crisis
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — As Secretary of State John Kerry began his meeting here with his Russian counterpart on Sunday evening to seek a political solution for the tense standoff over Ukraine, the federalization of the country was likely to be at the core of the discussion. PARIS — As Secretary of State John Kerry began his meeting here with his Russian counterpart on Sunday evening to seek a political solution to the tense standoff over Ukraine, the federalization of the country was likely to be at the core of the discussion.
Even as Russia has massed as many as 50,000 troops near its border with Ukraine, its foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, has asserted the Kremlin’s first priority is a diplomatic solution that would involve constitutional reforms in Ukraine. Even as Russia has massed as many as 50,000 troops near its border with Ukraine, its foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, has asserted that the Kremlin’s first priority is a diplomatic solution that would involve constitutional reforms in Ukraine.
And both Russia and American officials have telegraphed their support for constitutional changes that would safeguard the rights of the Russian-speaking population in the eastern portion of Ukraine. And both Russian and American officials have telegraphed their support for constitutional changes that would safeguard the rights of the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine.
But while the two sides are using the same terminology, experts caution that it appears to mask divergent visions over the future of Ukraine and its degree of independence from Moscow.But while the two sides are using the same terminology, experts caution that it appears to mask divergent visions over the future of Ukraine and its degree of independence from Moscow.
Is the aim of a new federal system to empower local officials and give provinces that are largely made up of Russian speakers more of a say over taxation and other regional affairs, as American officials suggest?Is the aim of a new federal system to empower local officials and give provinces that are largely made up of Russian speakers more of a say over taxation and other regional affairs, as American officials suggest?
Or is the goal to establish largely autonomous regions that would be under the influence of Moscow and which would hold a veto over national matters like those involving foreign policy issues, the outcome that Western officials say President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia appears to have in mind. Or is the goal to establish largely autonomous regions that would be under the influence of Moscow and that would hold a veto over national matters like those involving foreign policy issues, the outcome that Western officials say President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia appears to have in mind?
“Ukraine’s government structure has always been overly centralized in Kiev,” said Steven Pifer, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who served as the United States ambassador in Ukraine from 1998 to 2000.“Ukraine’s government structure has always been overly centralized in Kiev,” said Steven Pifer, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who served as the United States ambassador in Ukraine from 1998 to 2000.
“The president, for example, appoints provincial governors,” Mr. Pifer added. “Some diffusion of power from Kiev to provincial capitals to deal with regional issues would likely promote more efficient, effective and accountable governance. But we should be leery of the Russian position. Moscow does not care about more efficient governance; it wants to create opportunities to meddle in Ukraine’s internal politics.”“The president, for example, appoints provincial governors,” Mr. Pifer added. “Some diffusion of power from Kiev to provincial capitals to deal with regional issues would likely promote more efficient, effective and accountable governance. But we should be leery of the Russian position. Moscow does not care about more efficient governance; it wants to create opportunities to meddle in Ukraine’s internal politics.”
Mr. Kerry’s meeting with his Russian counterpart, which was held at the residence of the Russian ambassador here, was arranged after Mr. Putin called President Obama on Friday to discuss the latest American proposal to resolve the crisis.Mr. Kerry’s meeting with his Russian counterpart, which was held at the residence of the Russian ambassador here, was arranged after Mr. Putin called President Obama on Friday to discuss the latest American proposal to resolve the crisis.
Both sides appeared eager to meet quickly. With Russia building up its forces on Ukraine’s border, NATO foreign ministers are to meet Tuesday and Wednesday to decide how to bolster the alliance’s military posture, reassure East European members and assist Ukraine, whose dilapidated military is no match for the Russians. Both sides appeared eager to meet quickly. With Russia building up its forces on Ukraine’s border, NATO foreign ministers are to meet Tuesday and Wednesday to decide how to bolster the alliance’s military posture, reassure East European members and assist Ukraine, whose dilapidated military is no match for the Russians’.
For the Americans, even a hint of progress might provide the space and time to search for a political solution. The appearance of flexibility could also aid Russia’s effort to dispel Western interest in imposing tougher economic sanctions over Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and discourage NATO’s interest in taking more resolute steps.For the Americans, even a hint of progress might provide the space and time to search for a political solution. The appearance of flexibility could also aid Russia’s effort to dispel Western interest in imposing tougher economic sanctions over Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and discourage NATO’s interest in taking more resolute steps.
The deeper question is whether the two sides can come to terms on fundamental issues concerning Ukraine’s political future. Before the meeting began, Obama administration officials were playing down the notion of an imminent breakthrough. The deeper question is whether the two sides can come to terms on fundamental issues concerning Ukraine’s political future. Before the meeting in Paris began, Obama administration officials were playing down the notion of an imminent breakthrough.
Earlier this month, it appeared that Mr. Kerry’s diplomacy with his Russian counterpart had already run its course.Earlier this month, it appeared that Mr. Kerry’s diplomacy with his Russian counterpart had already run its course.
On March 8, Mr. Kerry warned Mr. Lavrov in a phone call that a decision by Russia to annex Crimea and to continue its military escalation would “close any available space for diplomacy,” a senior State Department official told reporters.On March 8, Mr. Kerry warned Mr. Lavrov in a phone call that a decision by Russia to annex Crimea and to continue its military escalation would “close any available space for diplomacy,” a senior State Department official told reporters.
Yet after Russia formally annexed Crimea in mid-March, the two sides kept talking. With unease in Western Europe about the cost of imposing of economic sanctions and anxiety over Russian muscle-flexing near Ukraine’s border, the Obama administration appeared to be looking for the same “off ramp” from the crisis that it had been offering the Kremlin. Yet, after Russia formally annexed Crimea in mid-March, the two sides kept talking. With unease in Western Europe about the cost of imposing economic sanctions and anxiety over Russian muscle-flexing near Ukraine’s border, the Obama administration appeared to be looking for the same “off ramp” from the crisis that it had been offering the Kremlin.
In recent weeks, the two sides have exchanged proposals and counterproposals. On March 10 the Russians presented their plan for “comprehensive constitutional reform” in Ukraine. In recent weeks, the two sides have exchanged proposals and counterproposals. On March 10, the Russians presented their plan for “comprehensive constitutional reform” in Ukraine.
According to the plan, Ukraine’s political system would be federalized. Governors would be elected, not appointed, Mr. Lavrov said in a recent interview on Russian television. And the regions they governed, he added, would have “wide powers” to set economic policy, organize education and establish “economic and cultural ties with neighboring countries,” like Russia.According to the plan, Ukraine’s political system would be federalized. Governors would be elected, not appointed, Mr. Lavrov said in a recent interview on Russian television. And the regions they governed, he added, would have “wide powers” to set economic policy, organize education and establish “economic and cultural ties with neighboring countries,” like Russia.
Russia would be made an official language along with Ukrainian, under the Russian plan. And Ukraine’s Constitution, Mr. Lavrov added, would formally ensure that the country could never “be part of any bloc” like NATO. Russia would be made an official language, along with Ukrainian, under the Russian plan. And Ukraine’s Constitution, Mr. Lavrov added, would formally ensure that the country could never “be part of any bloc” like NATO.
The Obama administration delivered its response on Monday when Mr. Kerry met with Mr. Lavrov on the margins of the nuclear summit meeting in The Hague.The Obama administration delivered its response on Monday when Mr. Kerry met with Mr. Lavrov on the margins of the nuclear summit meeting in The Hague.
American officials said that the document they provided to Mr. Lavrov was prepared in consultation with Ukraine’s new interim government. It is not a blueprint as much as a series of questions and answers that is being passed back and forth between the sides.American officials said that the document they provided to Mr. Lavrov was prepared in consultation with Ukraine’s new interim government. It is not a blueprint as much as a series of questions and answers that is being passed back and forth between the sides.
The American proposal calls for direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials, the disarmament of local militias, some of which are supported by Moscow, the deployment of international monitors and a commitment by Russian to “de-escalate” the conflict. American officials are also open to some degree of federalization if it is supported by the Ukrainian side. The American proposal calls for direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials, the disarmament of local militias — some of which are supported by Moscow — the deployment of international monitors and a commitment by Russian to “de-escalate” the conflict. American officials are also open to some degree of federalization if it is supported by the Ukrainian side.
Mr. Putin took the next diplomatic step when he called Mr. Obama on Friday and the two leaders agreed that Mr. Lavrov and Mr. Kerry should meet once again. Mr. Kerry consulted with Ukrainian officials before the Sunday meeting and plans to coordinate a response if the Russian side presents a new proposal, American officials say. Mr. Putin took the next diplomatic step when he called Mr. Obama on Friday, and the two leaders agreed that Mr. Lavrov and Mr. Kerry should meet again. Mr. Kerry consulted with Ukrainian officials before the meeting on Sunday and planned to coordinate a response if the Russian side presented a new proposal, American officials said.
While Ukrainian officials are open to discussing providing the country’s regions with a measure of autonomy on taxation, the Russians are pressing regional veto power, American official said.While Ukrainian officials are open to discussing providing the country’s regions with a measure of autonomy on taxation, the Russians are pressing regional veto power, American official said.
Ukrainian politicians have reacted skeptically to the Russian version of federalization. Petro O. Poroshenko, the industrialist who is one of the leading Ukrainians candidates for president, said recently that the idea amounted to “somebody in the Russian government trying to tell us what type of governmental system we should have.”Ukrainian politicians have reacted skeptically to the Russian version of federalization. Petro O. Poroshenko, the industrialist who is one of the leading Ukrainians candidates for president, said recently that the idea amounted to “somebody in the Russian government trying to tell us what type of governmental system we should have.”
The degree of federalization, however, is just one thorny issue between the sides. Russia has rebuffed the suggestion for direct talks with the interim Ukrainian government.The degree of federalization, however, is just one thorny issue between the sides. Russia has rebuffed the suggestion for direct talks with the interim Ukrainian government.