[EXCERPTS] DoD News Briefing May 1, 1997 -- 9 a.m.
Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen
Minister of Defense General Colonel Oleksandr Kuzmuk of Ukraine
SECRETARY COHEN: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to welcome Minister Kuzmuk on his very first visit to the United States. In 1993, Ukraine made a very bold and progressive choice. It decided to dismantle its strategic nuclear arsenal. The people of Ukraine recognize that security comes from constructive alliances and not from nuclear weapons. And Ukraine's commitment to peaceful disarmament is an inspiration to the rest of the world. The United States and Ukraine worked very closely together and our cooperation has helped lead to the speedy removal of Ukraine's nuclear weapons.............. SECRETARY COHEN: Open to your questions. Q: Sir, I just wanted to ask one quick question. There is -- when the Soviet Union broke up, the bulk of the Russian strategic bomber force is in the Ukraine. How are negotiations going on between Ukraine and Russia for control of that bomber force? I understand Russia would like some of those airplanes back? MINISTER KUZMUK: After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Ukraine was the third largest nuclear power in the world. The strategic -- the nuclear forces of Ukraine were composed of the strategic rocket forces and also of the strategic weapons that were within the air force of Ukraine. Once we renounced our nuclear status and once we took it upon ourselves to eliminate our nuclear weapons, Ukraine has done so indeed. First of all. Ukraine did what the entire world was expecting and wanted and removed the warheads from its missiles. We are very carefully keeping to the timetable for the elimination of ICBMs. Yes, the larger part of the strategic aviation has remained in Ukraine. Ukraine is the owner of this. But all the equipment that had been on board this aviation, all the cruise missiles, everything that went along with them, everything that could have been used for strategic purposes has been eliminated. There are about 50 long-range bombers, TU-160, TU-95. This is analogous to your B-1 bomber and B-52. Russia proposed -- we proposed this to Russia, but we have not gotten an answer from Russia, and I really doubt that we will get an answer from Russia. And Ukraine will not be modernizing these bombers. So yesterday at the Air Combat Command, I answered this question. I said if there were to be a conflict, these bombers would have to leave Ukraine, travel through the United States, pick up allies and actually finish up on their way. They do have a defensive character, and Ukraine has a defensive doctrine to defend its country -- to defend its territorial integrity.
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