Engineer Memoirs
Ukrainian officials had signed the Lisbon Protocols in early 1992, agreeing to
transfer their strategic weapons to Russia for dismantling and destruction, and
expressing their intention to sign the Non-Proliferation treaty [NPT]. However,
soon afterwards the Ukraine parliament had second thoughts about turning over
Ukraine's weapons to Russia. On the one hand, they feared that Russia might one
day use the weapons against them. On the other hand, they wanted to use the
possession of nuclear weapons as leverage to get some badly needed hard currency.
President Bush had set back U.S./Ukraine relations when he made his "Chicken
Kiev" speech in 1991, several weeks before the August 1991 coup against
Gorbachev. The President urged the Ukrainians to put off their desires for
independence and throw their support behind Gorbachev. It was an ill-conceived
appeal which was resented by the Ukrainians. Soon after the USSR was dissolved,
the Ukrainians went to the polls and by a 90-percent vote opted to become
independent.
I told Goodpaster that I was highly interested in seeing Ukraine work out a
satisfactory arrangement with Russia over the weapons, especially since Russian
officials said they would not implement START until Ukraine signed the NPT.
Goodpaster asked me to arrange for a grant from a foundation to fund a joint
U.S./Ukrainian study effort on Ukraine. I called six or seven of my friends in
various foundations, but all, for one reason or another, said that they were not
interested. Nevertheless, Goodpaster said that one of the foundations, PEW, would
fund the study group.
At this writing [June 1993] I am waiting for further word from General Goodpaster
about the project. Meanwhile, I have met with some prominent Ukrainian
Americans, among them Vitalij Garber, Michael Yarymovych and Bo Denysyk.
I also met with Oleh Bilorus, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States. In
March 1993 I hosted a lunch for Anatoly Zlemko, Foreign Minister of the Ukraine,
at which I introduced him to General Goodpaster and others. Meanwhile, I am
gathering more information about Ukraine on how we can strengthen
U.S./Ukrainian relations.
Consulting Activities
In 1992 and 1993 I undertook several consulting efforts. One project was with
Science Applications International Corporation [SAIC] on the adequacy of the
verification provisions of the START treaty. In another project I joined a panel at
Rockwell International on a similar study. This led to work on a panel with
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