INSIDE: l Ukrainian government relaxes COVID-19 restrictions – page 3 l The Lighter Side of Cooking: A night with Chef Andrey Sonevytsky – page 9 l Ukraine’s comeback falls short in Euro soccer championship opener – page 14 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal Wnon-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXIX No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021 $2.00 Rada registers controversial bill to reduce Ukrainian Following summit, Kremlin says NATO language while Putin balks at indigenous people law membership for Ukraine would be a ‘red line’ by Mark Raczkiewycz with the Ottoman Empire and its vassal state of the Crimean Khanate. Parts of the KYIV – Two legislative bills, one on peninsula had been repeatedly colonized indigenous people and the other on by Greeks, Romans, Huns, the Byzantine Ukrainian-language usage on television and Empire, among others, Voice of America in cinema, have sparked the ire of both wrote in a historical article in 2014. Moscow and state-building activists. As part of the Soviet Union in World War Although the draft laws are only regis- II, the peninsula’s Crimean-Tatar popula- tered on the Verkhovna Rada’s long-listed tion was entirely deported to Central Asia docket, Russian President Vladimir has in 1944 over alleged collaboration with criticized a proposed law that defines invading Nazi forces. which people are indigenous to Crimea, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Ukraine’s peninsula that Russia forcibly Dmytro Kuleba subsequently told German seized in 2014. broadcaster Deutsche Welle that the bill Submitted by Ukrainian President corresponds with the United Nations’ 2007 Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the bill defines indige- Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous nous people on the occupied peninsula as Peoples. Crimean Tatars as well as two tiny sects with “The president’s proposed bill actually Jewish roots: the Karaites and Krymchaks. implements these norms of international Pool photo, RIA Novosti Mr. Putin and members of the State law in the national legislation,” he told U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for a summit in Duma rubber-stamp parliament have Interfax-Ukraine news agency on June 10. Geneva on June 16. balked at Russians not being included in Part of the bill’s wording says that peo- the wording of the bill. ple are not indigenous if they have another RFE/RL Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelens- In an interview with state-owned country to call home. kyy said on June 14 that he wanted a clear Rossiya 1 television channel on June 9, the Halya Coynash of the Kharkiv Human Ukraine becoming a member of NATO “yes” or “no” from Mr. Biden on giving Kremlin leader said that labeling people Rights Protection Group told The Ukrainian would be a “red line” for Russia, the Kremlin Ukraine a plan to join NATO. according to categories starting with Weekly that the bill also applies “to self- has said after U.S. President Joe Biden and The United States has provided more “indigenous, first-class and second-class identification, some sense of community Russian President Vladimir Putin held their than $2.5 billion in security assistance to people” was how Nazis divided groups of via self-governing bodies, etc.” first summit in Geneva on June 16. Ukraine since 2014, when Russia forcibly ethnicities during World War II. The Kremlin has argued that Russians Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said seized Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and The bill is “not just incorrect, it’s ridicu- have always lived on the peninsula so on June 17 that Russia was concerned by backed separatists in the east, sparking a lous and pointless…” and “does not corre- therefore it has a right to claim it. Ukraine’s talk that Kyiv may one day be granted a war that has killed more than 13,000 peo- spond to history at all,” Mr. Putin said. law in Russia is perceived as a diminishing NATO Membership Action Plan, a first step ple. In 1783, Tsarist Russia conquered the toward membership in the Western alli- territory of Crimea after a series of wars (Continued on page 9) ance. (Continued on page 6) UCCA President Futey visits Ukraine, discusses U.S.-Ukraine relations by Mark Raczkiewycz Among those in attendance were presidential chief-of- staff Andriy Yermak and Ukrainian World Congress KYIV – After a 15-month hiatus, the head of the largest President Paul Grod, who took part via video conference. organization representing U.S. citizens of Ukrainian heri- “It was very focused on the key issue of stopping tage visited Ukraine on a fact-finding mission where he Russian aggression and…strengthening the U.S.-Ukraine discussed “concrete issues” with high-level government, [strategic] partnership,” Mr. Futey said, summarizing his security and diplomatic officials, as well as a member of six-day working visit to the Ukrainian capital. parliament. A new $150 million security package for Ukraine was Andriy Futey, president of the Ukrainian Congress announced by the U.S. Defense Department on June 11. It Committee of America (UCCA), told The Ukrainian Weekly includes provision “of counter-artillery radars, counter- that the purpose of the visit was to talk about “the most unmanned aerial systems, secure communications gear, recent U.S.-Ukraine relations.” electronic warfare and military medical evacuation equip- The filled agenda included discussions about restoring ment, and training and equipment to improve the opera- U.S. sanctions on Russia’s natural-gas pipeline project Nord tional safety and capacity of Ukrainian Air Force bases,” Stream 2, continued military assistance for Kyiv, assurance the Defense Department news release said. of NATO membership for Ukraine, Ukrainian President Kyiv has utilized different governmental and diplomatic Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s upcoming visit to the White House, avenues in its attempt to obtain assurances for NATO and this year’s 30th anniversary of renewed independence membership to withstand Russia, which has waged a and its preceding “Crimean Platform” event. hybrid war against the nation since 2014 that includes a The official segment of the trip culminated on June 12 in military invasion, cyberattacks, subversion, assassinations a two-hour meeting at the presidential office building that Courtesy of Andriy Futey and propaganda warfare. “was very direct” and focused on Ukraine’s push to receive Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba Some 14,000 people have been killed in the eastern- a roadmap that would ensure access to the alliance, Mr. (left) meets with Ukrainian Congress Committee of Futey said. America President Andriy Futey in Kyiv on June 11. (Continued on page 13) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021 No. 25 ANALYSIS Mitigating the impact Zelenskyy wants clarity on NATO path than most of the countries of the European Union,” he said. He expects Ukraine to Ukrainian President Volodymyr secure a much-delayed IMF tranche by the of Nord Stream 2 on Ukraine Zelenskyy said on June 15 he wants a clear autumn though added Ukraine could still yes or no from U.S. President Joe Biden on struct two new mega pipelines in the Baltic “live normally” without one. Mr. Zelenskyy by Margarita Assenova giving Ukraine a plan to join the NATO mili- and Black seas has broad strategic objec- did not rule out another flare-up in the Eurasia Daily Monitor tary alliance. In a joint interview with tives. It aimed to bypass Ukraine as a gas coming months in Ukraine’s conflict with Reuters, the Associated Press and Agence Two weeks after the Biden administra- transit country, encircle Central and Russian-backed separatists, though in his tion waived congressionally mandated Eastern Europe in a pincer movement to France-Press, Mr. Zelenskyy said he assessment Russia was not looking to pro- sanctions on Nord Stream AG, the company dominate its gas market, suffocate regional received assurances that Mr. Biden would voke a “full-scale war.” Kyiv says the conflict behind the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Russian market development and restrict alterna- not use Ukraine as a bargaining tool in his in eastern Ukraine has killed 14,000 people President Vladimir Putin announced that tive gas suppliers. Dividing EU members, meeting with Russian President Vladimir since 2014. “Everyone should understand the first link of the subsea line is completed most of whom oppose Nord Stream 2, and Putin. He called on the United States to pro- and be more flexible, understand that we and ready for testing (Vesti.ru, June 4). But challenging EU energy and competition vide economic support to Ukraine and are at war, that we are defending democra- the Russian president knows it is too early regulations is also part of these objectives. urged both Mr. Biden and the International cy in Europe and defending our country, for a victory dance. Amidst a flurry of sharp But Mr. Putin sounded more conciliatory Monetary Fund to be understanding of and therefore you cannot just talk to us reactions to the sanctions’ waivers from the when discussing the future of Russian gas Ukraine’s problems before placing “unfair” with phrases about reforms,” he said. U.S. Congress and most Central-East transmission through Ukraine, noting reform demands on his presidency. “If we (Reuters) European states, and the ongoing U.S.- Gazprom’s current five-year contract with are talking about NATO and the MAP, I $150 million in military aid for Ukraine German talks on mitigating the potential Naftogaz and leaving the opportunity open would really like to get [from Mr. Biden] specifics – yes or no,” Mr. Zelenskyy said, negative impact of the pipeline completion for new agreements. Clearly, Moscow The U.S. Defense Department announced referring to the Membership Action Plan on Ukraine, the future of the pipeline wants to keep the door open for continuing on June 11 a new military assistance pack- given to candidate countries, a status which remains uncertain.