[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
[May 11, 1995]
[Pages 679-680]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on Arrival in Kiev, Ukraine
May 11, 1995

    President Kuchma, Mrs. Kuchma, distinguished members of the 
government: It is a great honor for me and for our party to be in one of 
Europe's oldest nations and youngest democracies.
    This trip, which follows my stopover here in January of 1994 and 
President Kuchma's trip to Washington last fall, will give us an 
opportunity to continue the tremendous progress we have made in building 
strong and productive ties between our countries.
    This week in Washington, Moscow, and now Kiev, we celebrated an 
alliance that turned back the forces of fascism 50 years ago. Our 
victory was shared. But its cost to the people of the former Soviet 
Union was unique. On this land alone, more than 5 million Ukrainians 
lost their lives to the war.
    Now, the tremendous will the Ukrainian people brought to the war 
effort is building a great future for this nation. The United States has 
an important stake in that future. A secure, stable, and prosperous 
Ukraine can become a hub of democracy for Central Europe and an 
important political and economic partner for the United States.
    Already, we have seen what such a partnership can accomplish. 
Ukraine chose to give up nuclear weapons when the former Soviet Union 
dissolved. Your decision has made the Ukrainian people, the American 
people, and the entire world much safer and more secure. On behalf of 
the United States, I want to thank you for that brave and wise decision.
    We have also been heartened by the bold steps Ukraine has taken over 
the past several

[[Page 680]]

months to foster free markets. Those were the right steps, and the 
international community has given the right response, large-scale 
assistance to help Ukraine stay on the path of reform. I want President 
Kuchma and the Ukrainian people to know that the United States and the 
West will stay the course with you.
    I look forward to discussing the potential for strengthening the 
economic ties between our two nations. The private sector can be the 
engine of economic growth for Ukraine. And as prosperity takes hold, 52 
million Ukrainians can become major consumers of our goods and services. 
That will produce more jobs, at better wages, in both our countries.
    The United States admires the extraordinary progress Ukraine has 
made in such a short time. Building democracy and a successful market 
economy takes time and patience. Ukrainian people are demonstrating an 
abundance of both, and I am here to reaffirm our country's strong 
support for your courage and vision.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 3:25 p.m. in the Mariinsky 
Palace Courtyard. In his remarks, he referred to President Leonid Kuchma 
of Ukraine and his wife, Lyudmyla Niaolayivna Kuchma.