Cyclonic
GA Member
- May 30, 2025
- 34
Draft Law of Ukraine No. 13/06-VR "On Ratification of the Treaty on the Strategic Lease and Joint Security Arrangement Concerning the Crimean Peninsula"
** Stage: Committee on Foreign Policy **
"I call Deputy Fedir Nazarovych for his statement. After that, we will take a vote on our recommendation to the full Rada."
Fedir Chernenko, an experienced political operator who had been in the Rada since 1991, was a noted orator whose opinion was highly valued, not to mention influential, in the committee; a rare breed when the Rada had so thoroughly been subjected to President Kuchma's iron will. The other Committee members were likely to be swayed by his vote.
"When we were promised that Ukrainian interests would come before those of other countries," he growled, "we were not told that Ukrainian interests had changed to align with those of another country. In other words, it is disingenuous- no, it is lying- to say that this is putting Ukraine first. In reality, it is putting Russia first. What do we get out of this deal? We lose territory, a strategically vital naval base in the Black Sea, and for what? About two months' worth of tax revenue!"
There were some approving thumps on tables from other members; mostly the newer, younger, greener members who wanted a figure of authority to follow. The older, more experienced members sat in stony silence, their faces blank.
"Our navy will soon comprise of 10 destroyers and 6 cruisers. 16 surface ships in one sea is a menacingly threatening force. We should not have to rely on another country- certainly not one as unreliable as Russia- for our national security. Who knows what will happen if Ukrainian sovereign land- because this is still Ukrainian territory- is used against a foreign power? Who knows if Crimea will be used against us? What will happen then- do you think that Russia would willingly cede territory to their enemy because of a piece of paper? We now have to commit land forces to defend our southern flank, when previously we could rely on our navy to do it. The irony is we have to spend that five billion dollars on more troops to defend our border with Crimea, when previously we didn't have to worry about it at all."
"You have heard the testimony of our military leaders, our civil servants, our officials in Crimea. They were not consulted, nor were they aware of this deal. We are being asked to rubber stamp the deal, not scrutinise it as we would with any other draft law. Kuchma has time and time again shown contempt of the Verkhovna Rada, and this is no different. We must show that we are still a political force to be reckoned with- not just us, but the people as a whole must remain relevant when considering deals which affect our collective national security."
"It is remarkable how easily Russia has taken our territory. Russia has invaded and taken Ukrainian land with nothing more than a piece of paper and some sweet words to President Kuchma. I cannot in good conscience watch our country be sold off to a foreign power. Are we still the Republic of Ukraine, or simply Ukraine Oblast?"
The committee burst into applause when he finished. Even some of the more experienced members looked persuaded.
"The choices before us," Chairman Kobzar declared, "are recommendations to the full Rada. We can recommend that the draft law be adopted in its first reading, rejected or returned to the President, who proposed the draft law of ratification, for further amendments. Our recommendations are non-binding but do carry weight in the Rada. I will start with the choice to recommend that the draft law be adopted. If that fails, I will propose that we recommend that the draft law be returned for revision. If that fails, I will propose that we recommend that the draft law be rejected."
"I propose that we recommend that the draft law be adopted."
He went round to each member. At the end, the vote was on a knife-edge- 15 in favour, 15 against. Kobzar himself had to cast the deciding vote; following convention, he chose to preserve the status quo, voting against. Conventions still had some role to play in committees, even if intimidation was the norm in the full Rada; the smaller, more private and hence prestigious space were the final holdouts against Kuchma's one-man rule. A member could very often vote for the President in the Rada and against him in committee- though most of the time they failed to have any effect on Kuchma's legislative agenda. His will always prevailed.
Already there were murmurs of surprise and anxiety. Kuchma had ruled the Rada with such an iron fist that it was unprecedented for a draft law, especially one he had proposed personally, to fail. How would he take the defeat?
Returning the draft law for revision is rare, especially if it is a treaty, Kobzar thought privately. It is likely that we will vote to reject the draft law- and what will happen then? Uproar! We probably won't make it out of the building alive- the SBU will be waiting!
"I propose that we recommend that the draft law be returned for revision."
Again, he asked each member for their vote. At the end, another upset- 16 in favour, 14 against. Kobzar declined to vote. It seemed to be a compromise; no doubt the final few members, having seen everyone else's vote and knowing the likely final tally, decided that this was better than an outright rejection.
Kobzar sighed, anxious to see how the President would react. He had to keep working, though; they now had to vote on Deputy Chernenko's proposed reasons for the recommendation. It was a foregone conclusion, however, that if they recommended to return the draft law for revision they would have to pass the reasons for their vote, and usually the rapporteur, the proposer of the draft law, did so. But Valentyn Romanenko, the rapporteur in question and a known lackey of Kuchma, clearly did not want to justify a vote he had voted against in. So Chernenko proposed his own, which were swiftly adopted.
Recommendation: That Draft Law No. 13/06-VR be returned to the subject of legislative initiative for revision in the plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada.
The recommendation is based on the need to address the following issues:
- The draft law threatens the territorial integrity of Ukraine with little benefit to show for it.
- The draft law would necessitate further military spending to defend Ukraine's southern border which has not been budgeted for.
- The proposed sum of five billion dollars is too low to account for the increased spending.
- Ukraine's national interests are being subjugated to those of Russia.
