[Ukr] Message to the US: Cold War Thaw

[GingeOrCringe]

To: Jackson Fitzgerald Odinson

From: Konstyantyn Gryshchenko

Subject: An End to Hostilities

CC: Viktor Yushchenko, Oleh Bilorus

Security: encrypted and private

Salutations from Ukraine to the honorable Secretary Jackson Fitzgerald and the Department of State,

I would first like to extend deep condolences to the United States of America on the behalf of the Republic of Ukraine. I apologize that this message has been so delayed, but we thought it best to allow the new administration to focus on emergency management. We are greatly impressed at the speed and professionalism with which the federal government transitioned in the face of national tragedy. The late President Clinton would have been proud. Once again the United States has demonstrated its exceptionalism—that is the second reason we are contacting you today.

While America may have stumbled, we expect the Great Western Colossus of the Cold War to soon revive itself. That is America’s super power, after all. Your Civil War, the First World War, the Great Depression—your country always comes back stronger. The American People’s love of freedom is not extraordinary, but your ability to keep it is.

When it comes to liberal sentiments, the hearts of the Ukrainian people are similar to your own. In 1710 the Zaporizhian Cossacks demonstrated this by composing the Constitution of Pylyp Orlyk. It set forth many of the same ideas as your constitution, including representative elections, separation of powers, and limited taxation. But history has set numerous obstructions between my country and freedom. You must already recognize Ukraine never belonged to the Soviet Union. We never consented to the authoritarian government and it’s strangulating grip. Likewise, the Communist Party’s brief usurpation of power in 1995 was in no way indicative of our General Will.

We believe ourselves to be natural allies to the Flagship of the Free World. We would like to forge a friendship with the United States. Born on the poverty, corruption, and crime ridden carcass of the Soviet Union, we are a new republic in need of navigational assistance. Would you be willing to provide it?


Awaiting your reply with interest,

Konstyantyn Ivanovych Gryshchenko
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Republic of Ukraine

 

[Odinson]

[TR][TD]

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE​

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ENCRYPTED MESSAGE​

[TR][TD]

TO: Konstyantyn Gryshchenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Ukraine ( GingeOrCringe )​

FROM: Jackson Fitzgerald, Secretary of State of The United States of America

Minister Gryshchenko,

Thank you for your kind words and sentiments as the United States leaves one of its darkest hours. Despite the great losses we have faced, our country has proven to always rebound back stronger and better than before. I have no doubt that we will continue this trend. However, this will not be over until we apprehend everyone responsible for what happened. They will not escape justice. Unfortunately, things like this can take time, which is frustrating to everyone.

In regards to Ukraine, the Free World is always open to new members. As a first generation American, with family in Ireland, I can comprehend the woes of an occupied nation transitioning into an independent country of its own. Ironically, presenting oppressed peoples with freedom brings complications and problems on its own for a newly established republic, but it will pay dividends. Your statements about the Soviet Union, as well as the Communist Party, are comforting because I can assure you that the United States remains committed to the defense of democracy and individual freedom around the world. The Gore Administration sees communism as a threat to the survival of mankind.

Please let me know how I, or the United States at-large, can help Ukraine transition into its better self.

Sincerely,

Jackson Fitzgerald
Secretary of State
​

[/TD][/TR][/TD][/TR]

 

[GingeOrCringe]

To: Jackson Fitzgerald Odinson

From: Konstyantyn Gryshchenko

Subject: An End to Hostilities

CC: Viktor Yushchenko, Oleh Bilorus

Security: encrypted and private

I assure you, Mr. Secretary, no path could be as arduous as reverting to the despotism of the Soviet Union. We would have to be dragged back down that road. We expect complications in the transition to republicanism and thank you for your honesty. Still, for Ukraine there is no other option for possible success. You have no choice but to pursue justice, though it may be slow to come in the case of the State of the Union Terrorist Attack. Ukraine has no choice but to pursue lasting independence.

There are several topics we would like to discuss, one of them happens to be your birthplace of Ireland and it's relationship with the United Kingdom. If time allows, we would like to address these topics in person. When would your ambassador in Kyiv be available? I'm embarrassed to say their contact information has been lost in the shuffle of our records. If possible, we would like the meeting to take place at your embassy. There is too much room for misunderstanding over phone or email.



Respectfully,

Konstyantyn Ivanovych Gryshchenko
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Republic of Ukraine

 

[Odinson]

[TR][TD]

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE​

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ENCRYPTED MESSAGE​

[TR][TD]

TO: Konstyantyn Gryshchenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Ukraine ( GingeOrCringe )​

FROM: Jackson Fitzgerald, Secretary of State of The United States of America

Minister Gryshchenko,

I have spoken to our Ambassador to Ukraine - Ivan Kovalenko. He told me that he would be more than happy to meet with yourself and Ukrainian officials at your earliest convenience. I will pass along the embassy's contact information to your office. I hope that the meeting is fruitful; please feel free to contact me any time.

Sincerely,

Jackson Fitzgerald
Secretary of State
​

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As promised, the contact information for the embassy was securely sent to the Ukrainian foreign officials so that they could arrange a meeting with the ambassador. If they decided to do so, Ambassador Kovalenko would invite them to come that very day if they chose to. Ukrainian officials who may have met, or met people who had me, Kovalenko before knew that he was slightly eccentric. He was overwhelmingly American, while at the same time being practically obsessed with his Ukrainian heritage. Kovalenko waited for the Ukrainians to arrive.

 

[GingeOrCringe]

Minister Gryshchenko would send a polite email thanking Secretary Fitzgerald. The message was private and encrypted, of course. The Ukrainians would take up the offer for a meeting that day, Kovalenko could expect a representative to arrive at 3:00pm.

The US Embassy was the farthest diplomatic mission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Closer real estate had either been swept up by former Soviet Republics or simply couldn’t accommodate the level os security needed for such a high profile country. Maybe it was the cream-colored masonry or just the blocky aesthetic so many Soviet Era buildings had, but something about the embassy was reminiscent of Moscow’s looming State Duma.

At 2:45 a taxi slowed to a stop in front of #4 A.I. Sikorsky Street and a soft-faced woman stepped out. She introduced herself to embassy security as Maryna Redko, a member of Gryshchenko's North American Advisory Team. She looked more like a school teacher than a diplomat, but she had a government ID and a printed-out copy of the correspondence between Ukraine and the United States so far.

"I'm due for a meeting with Ambassador Kovalenko at 3:00," she would explain. She hadn't met him before. There had been a few jokes made back at the ministry, but she was trying to reserve any judgment.


Odinson

 

[Odinson]

The embassy guards would go through Maryna Redko's papers to ensure that she was who she said she was. The embassy was expecting a visitor from Ukraine's foreign ministry, so it's not like this was out of the blue. The security detail welcomed Maryna inside the embassy where some of the ambassador's staff were then waiting to meet her. The ambassador's chief of staff escorted her across the embassy to a large corner room on the highest windowed floor of the building. The chief of staff walked past the ambassador's secretary, who politely stood when the two of them walked by her desk, and knocked at the door of the room.

"Come in!" shouted a voice from within. Kovalenko's chief of staff opened the door and said, "Mister Ambassador, this is Miss Maryna Redko," he said, before stepping aside and allowing their guest to enter the room. Maryna had probably seen diplomatic reception rooms before. They were usually large rooms with paintings and fine carpets and comfortable chairs for diplomats to be... well received. The idea was to put a diplomat in a very open, attractive, and comfortable setting where things could be openly discussed without the fear of someone secretly listening in or the feeling of being claustrophobic. This room was nearly that, but a bit off.

For one thing, the ambassador actually had a desk in a corner of the room, which was unusual, but not baffling. The desk wasn't neat, but instead had over a dozen books stacked on top of it with a mess of papers. He looked to be a very busy man. However, if Maryna was forward enough to walk into the room and towards his desk, which the ambassador was near, she would maybe notice that virtually all the books were on topics of culture and history and language. Just as she was walking in, in fact, Kovalenko was pulling down a massive 2000+ page tome on the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He dropped it on his desk, and then looked at Maryna.

Kovalenko was an older man, probably in his early 60s. He was just under six feet tall, was slightly overweight, and had a full head of snow white hair that was properly combed, and a neatly trimmed white beard that went about an inch off of his face. He was wearing a grey suit, but his jacket was draped over his leather chair behind his desk. He had on a white shirt and red tie, along with blood-red suspenders. He was very tempted to just open the book, but he thought to himself that he shouldn't be rude to his guest. Once again, geopolitics was getting in the way of his studies. The ambassador quickly put on his suit jacket and walked over to meet Maryna near the center of the room.

"Zdrastuyte!" he said with a big smile as he walked over to her. Kovalenko had on large reading glasses which he took off and kept in his left hand. Kovalenko knew it was not custom in Ukraine for women to shake hands with each other, let alone men, so he instead stood there before her and said. "I am Ambassador Ivan Kovalenko, welcome to the American Embassy Miss Redko," he said. "Please, come take a seat," he said as he walked over to some comfortable chairs near the center of the room. There was a coffee table between them, which was covered in some copies of some Orthodox Church records from the 1800s. He quickly picked them up to tidy up the place a bit, and did his best to slide them under his chair when she wasn't looking.

"Thank you Dan, that'll be all," he said to his Chief of Staff who was still standing in the door way. Dan left them alone to their own devices.
"Before we begin, can I get you anything, Miss Redko? I don't know about you, but I could go for some tea right now... I also have some water if you'd prefer that?" he asked. He stood up and briefly walked over to his desk where some freshly brewed tea was. He brought it over to their coffee table, removed two tea cups from below it, and carefully poured some for both of them before also getting them water. An ambassador getting refreshments for their guests was unusual, but not impolite. If anything, it probably showed that Ambassador Kovalenko was much more down-to-Earth than most of his fellow American ambassadors around the world. He would offer her honey and milk if she wanted to add any to her tea. He himself took a small whisk of honey for his.

After that, he sat back down and sipped the tea. The room had a few lit scented candles within it that were burning and gave the room a very faint smell of lavender.
"So, how may I help you Miss Redko?" he asked as he set down his tea cup and gave her his full, undivided attention.
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

“Dobryj den Ambassador Kovalenko, I’m happy to meet you. I hope it’s not too much an interruption,” she said, gazing at all the books stacked on the ambassador’s desk. The last time she’d seen books piled up that high had been when she was writing her masters thesis. She tried to catch the title on the spine of the monstrous tome Kovalenko had just set down, to no avail.

Maryna made a mental note of Dan's name and offered him a goodbye smile before sinking into one of the plush chairs. She crossed her legs and kept her purse on her lap as she took in the room. Much of her work was over the phone or by email. She didn’t expect the meeting to be this… cozy? It was a relief that the interior of the embassy was not as brutalist as the outside.

There was a half-successful attempt to stifle a laugh as her eyes returned to the Ambassador. He was discarding the jumble of antiqued pages under his chair like a student trying to hide a note in class. “Tea would be wonderful, thank you. Everyone here has been very kind—but then that seems to be typical in every interaction I have with you Americans.”

She took the cup and saucer in hand, studying any pattern on the side. After a brief pause she spoke. “First, let's discuss the situation in Ireland... I believe the Gore Administration invited Taoiseach Bruton to the American White House after the state funeral. We assume you are on friendly terms with the Irish? You have plenty of historical ties with them, just as you do with the United Kingdom. We would like to know your opinion on the border dispute between them. Do you have a formal stance?"

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Ambassador Kovalenko briefly ran his fingers through his white beard and then sipped his tea. "The Irish government actually requested for the Taoiseach to come visit the President at the White House. From my understanding, the State Department accepted the Taoiseach's request to visit because it sounded rather urgent but... If I may ask, why does Irish politics concern a Ukrainian diplomat?" he retorted. On Kovalenko's left hand was a gold wedding ring, and on his right hand was a gold college ring. If Miss Redko had her team do any more background checking for the ambassador, she would know that his wife had died a couple of years ago in a car accident involving a drunk driver. Something she would notice is that there was no alcohol in the room (something one would hope not to see in any embassy) and the ambassador looked to be a very sober fellow. She could only smell the slightest hint of a woody-cigar smoke, but it was so faint that it would be easy to forget, and it was overpowered by the lavender candles.
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

She frowned and leaned back in her chair, looking a little wide-eyed. “For the same reasons sanctioning fascists in Canada interested us. As a legitimate state, the peace of Europe is our concern,” her voice was like a pebble slowly worn down by the Dnieper—no sharpness, no edge. “That is… that’s a concern of the United States as well, no? Peace between countries with democratic values.” Perhaps it was the sillage of cigar smoke irritating her asthma, the room was beginning to lose its comfortability. Her eyes wandered to the desk and the mess of papers on it. Only a few years prior, the Soviets had been bugging US embassies with ease. "That is all we want to discuss."

She lifted her cup and took a sip. If the Ambassador was particularly observant, he might have noted the line of pale skin on her ring finger. “If you’d like a realpolitik answer, we’ve recently established diplomatic relations with Ireland. Ukraine has quite a bit in common with them. However, we would also like to develop a friendship with the UK. They are a major player in world politics and, like the United States, a leader liberal governance. You seem to be on civil terms with both of them. We would like your opinion on the border dispute before we proceed. Perhaps it’s an unsolvable issue Ukraine would do best to stay out of.”

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"Well," he said, "the United Kingdom is, without any hesitation of a doubt, America's closest ally. We have historical bonds that are inseparable, and we have a very good working relationship at the moment. In my own personal opinion, I do not think that Northern Ireland would change hands from the United Kingdom to Ireland and unless a war happened. However, I think that the Irish could negotiate things like open borders for the entire island and an end to hostilities between the Irish Republican Army and the British government. America would prefer for these Troubles to finally end and for the British and Irish governments to get along with each other - I think that would be best for all of Europe.

"In my professional experience with the British government, they can be snobbish, but can be very reasonable if its done in a professional setting and all neatly written out - you know how the British like their formal treaties and documents. However, I have no idea if the Irish actually do or do not want peace," he said.

"The stance of the United States is that we want a peaceful resolution to the Troubles," he concluded.
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

“Ukraine is under the impression that’s exactly what Ireland wants—an open border. At least, based on the communications we’ve received, that is what their government aims to achieve. They’re convinced it would detract from the IRA’s power. Why fight and die to unite Ireland if there doesn’t seem to be anything dividing it?” She gently placed the teacup on the table and sat up a bit.

“Let’s say Sean McDonald—military age—is given the freedom to travel unharassed between his home in Louth and his little old Gran’s place in Armagh. Commuters between Fermanagh and Cavan could sleep a few extra minutes without worrying about lines at customs. These are small things, but they are the types of things people are unwilling to lose. I can’t imagine the average Irish or North Irish citizen would have any sympathy for IRA rabble who would endanger an open border policy. The soapbox terrorists have been standing on for years would be kicked out. Their recruitment would dwindle.

Of course, current Anglo-Irish efforts to suppress the IRA must continue, but this would help immensely. Considering American-UK relations, perhaps you could make the suggestion to them. In the end we'd all be helping to make one corner of the world a little more stable."

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"I'm the American Ambassador to the Republic of Ukraine," he said. "My purview isn't on Irish politics," he said, "but what you've said does sound reasonable. The thing is, I think the British may very well find that reasonable as well. President Gore met with the Taoiseach of Ireland at the White House, and while I don't know exactly what was said, I know that he told them direct negotiations with the British, who have proven to be reasonable in the past, would be the best thing to do... The American government is generally willing to help those willing to help themselves, but I imagine the State Department has no interest in holding Ireland's hand and speaking to Britain on their behalf. That is especially the case with Ireland being next to Britain, and so far-removed from North America... Considering the 'Special Relationship' between America and Britain, as the British like to call it, I trust that they want a peaceful, reasonable solution. It would be a diplomatic mistake for us to interfere in that process, especially if the Irish are too scared to even converse with the British.

"But I'm sure the State Department would always be happy to mediate," he said.
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

“That is exactly what we were hoping for—Mediation. When two nations have spent so long staring at each other through sniper-sights and satellites it’s best to have third party arbitration.” A small smile flickered across her lips and her eyes turned to the church records haphazardly hidden, the paper as fragile as the shell of a pysanky egg. “One might call it intercession.”

Redko cleared her throat. “If you don’t mind, I think it’s time for us to transition to the next topic. You are Ukrainian, Mr. Ambassador—at least, I’ve been told that your parents were. Whether they escaped after 1932 or before, there’s many things they'd remember that for decades we could not speak of.” Again, she glanced at his heap of books and papers. “Things even historians, your Dr. Robert Conquest, could not research until the last days of Glasnost. In America your Mother and Father could afford the luxury of honesty. Did they ever tell you how it was here?” Her hand fidgeted absentmindedly with her bare ring finger.

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"In the field of international geopolitics," Ambassador Kovalenko said, "the United States government would consider the United Kingdom's status equal to ours. Considering how the British often see themselves as the mother of the world, they would probably feel like we were trying to take control of their situation with Ireland if we outright offered to mediate. But, if the British requested a neutral mediator, or if both countries directly asked us to do so, then I'm sure the State Department or even the White House would be willing to take on the task. The finer intricacies of diplomacy would prevent us from outright offering our services," Ivan said as he sipped his tea. While it appeared on the surface that his priority was his studies, it was obvious that his dedication to preserving the reputation of the United States was important to him.

Kovalenko refreshed his tea and would also refresh Redko's if she appeared to want more. The ambassador carefully listened to her personal question, and sipped his tea again as he pondered over the answer that was stored in the back of his mind. This wasn't the first time that someone had asked this question, but it was the first time that a non-American did, let alone someone working for a foreign government.

"Normally, I couldn't get my parents to tell me about Ukraine. But after a long day of working with my father in the fields and watching the sun set with him while we smoked our pipes, or after building a new rocking chair for my mother and letting her test it out while we drank coffee together, they would let their guard down and give me some snippets of the 'Old Country'." Kovalenko then quietly wondered if it was his parents silence on the Old Country that made him so interested in the history of his ancestral homeland.

"My paternal grandfather fought for the Whites in 1919, and died in combat. His wife lived with my paternal aunt but she died of old age in 1921. My parents married in 1932 when my father was 18, and my mother was 16. They lived on my maternal grandparents' farm in Zaporizhzhia Oblast for some time, along my mother's siblings. But it was burned down by the Soviets in November of 1932. Most of my mother's siblings were either imprisoned or starved to death as Holodomor began," he said, becoming slightly more quiet.

"My mother writes less in her journal from that point forward," he said, "but my parents, my maternal grandparents, and three of my mother's siblings decided at some point that they would starve to death if they stayed in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. They walked, on foot, to the Black Sea. My mother's three remaining siblings were either captured along the way, raped, shot, starved, or a combination of those. Once they made it to the Black Sea, they bribed some soldiers at the dock to let them board a ship that was destined for Istanbul. But there was only room for two... So my mother's parents stayed behind, and my parents took the ship to Istanbul. From there, they used the rest of the money they had to sail to Malta, and then the London. My father got a job there for a month or so, and they eventually were able to come to the United States."

Kovalenko's jovial, Santa Claus/old historian vibe had faded away, and now he just seemed somewhat sad. "My parents told me some of those things, but I read most of that in my mother's journals... My father was able to tell me a lot about working on the farm, and what Zaporizhzhia was like. He also really hated communists, and I think Russians in general.. I can't really blame him since they killed his father and my mother's entire family... My parents were the proudest Americans who ever lived," he said, quite confidently.
GingeOrCringe

 

[Odinson]

The overwhelming silence and lack of response from Redko only gave Kovalenko more time to consider what he just said. His eyes started to well up and he gritted his teeth. "Pardon me for a moment," he said as he got up and left the room. He came back about 90 seconds later - presumably after regaining his composure, and sat down on the chair he had been sitting on before.
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

There was silence, three soft ticks from the Pobeda watch that used to be her mother’s—the one that always seemed an hour and a year behind.

“Yes, of course,” Redko nodded quietly as the ambassador excused himself. The plain, polished surface of the coffee table suddenly seemed very interesting.

For most Ukrainians her age, the Holodomor was a shoebox of paper-clippings hidden under the floor boards. It was photo albums of family members who didn’t exist, areas of land they weren’t permitted to plow or dig, and low conversations between Babas and Gigis on April nights when the grandchildren were meant to be asleep. Six years had passed since the end of the Union, and still it seemed strange to hear anyone talk about the Terror-Famine so earnestly. She had expected a simple yes or no answer.

“My Grandmother never told us what became of her first three children,” blurted Redko before Kovalenko had made it back to his seat. Having been given such personal information, she felt indebted, that she owed some in return. “And my paternal uncle, he was very young, but he remembers soldiers standing guard at the local train station. His neighbors’ boy was one of them, he had studied in Moscow. No one listened to him before, but he came back speaking Russian, wearing a gymnastyorka and a holster, and suddenly everyone had to do what he said. They kept watch over freight-cars of wheat, always smoking cigarettes and cigars. Some of the harvest was shipped away. Most of it just sat and went to rot.”

She cleared her throat. “Unfortunately, the only unique aspect of your family’s story is that two of them were able to leave. Still, I’m sorry for their suffering and bereavement. I don’t bring this up to cause you pain or invoke pity for my country. I can tell you’re a studious man and we know your government would only appoint the most capable individuals as ambassadors. We just… need to be sure the US understands. You have your special relationship with the United Kingdom. We have ours with Russia. That is what happens when we are in opposition.”

She exhaled, looking awkwardly around the room. “I’m not sure if your department forwarded you the email Minister Hryshchenko sent Secretary Fitzgerald. In summary, Ukraine has its own democratic and liberal traditions which originated with the Kazaks. Our natural inclination is more aligned with the ideals of the United States than the Soviets. Understandably, we would like to befriend the US. We need allies who wish to sow perennial freedom.”

“As Ukraine sees it, there are two options for how our relations may develop. First, the US may choose to remain disconnected from Ukraine. In such an instance, Ukraine would be forced to bow to the Russians on most points of policy, but this is the least tedious path for your country. It’s understandable for you to turn your resources and focus to domestic politics. A terrorist attack on one’s Capital would leave any normal country reeling. The second course of action would be for the US and Ukraine to form a close partnership. Unfortunately, that would provoke the Russians. What happened to your parents, your aunts and uncles, your grandparents—that is what happens to us when Moscow sees us fall out of step… Both the first and second options have a negative trajectory, but we could cut a third path.”

“Your country stands victorious after a half-century long ideological world war. The USSR is defeated. The only conglomeration of countries that could ever rival your singular state—gone. As the millennium draws to a close we conclude the debate between authoritarian tyrants and the People. Can we not also put an end to hatred and fear? We must treat the Cold War as any other conflict and mark the end of hostilities with peace talks--a conference, a truce, whatever you will. Ukraine can call Russia to the table, but we need the United States there as well. In the long run such a friendship would be advantageous not only for the three of us, but for the world."

"We understand any suspicions you might have. You have been enemies for a long time. In that period, Ukraine's ill-feelings towards Russia have been left to fester in silence. Still, we are willing to give this a try. We know the bald eagle is capable of brandishing arrows, but I must now ask you, is the US strong enough to truly wield an olive branch? Your people have a reputation of choosing to do things ‘not because they are easy, but because they are hard.’”

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

The Ambassador took a sip of his drink and listened very carefully to what Redko had to say. After she was finished speaking, he jumped directly into what she was trying to address. "The relationship between the United States and Russia is more neutral now than it has ever been before. In my opinion, if there is any chance for us to build a positive or even look-warm relationship, now would be the time to do it while we don't have anything to hold against each other. However, I can't even imagine what the first step would be, besides meeting. It's always easy to schedule meetings and conferences, but sometimes finding a topic to discuss can be a much more difficult task..." he said.

"The worst kept secret in the State Department is that Secretary Fitzgerald hates the 'International Law of the Sea' and would like to see it replaced in the Global Assembly... Considering that under the present Law of the Sea, an American warship or submarine could sail directly off the coast of Russia provided that it travelled in a straight line and took some precautions, I would assume that the Russians don't like it either. We could perhaps have a short meeting and discuss that to break the ice, which I am sure we would agree on, and could move on to a more difficult topic... but, I'm not sure what that should be. It's difficult to mend the relationship between old enemies and rivals," he said, "but if it is possible, it is something that I think the federal government would like to do," he said.
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

“The ‘Law of the Sea’ could work for a start. A foundation for us to build on.”

“Another point of agreement could be Romania. Their recent shoving match with Moldova certainly hasn’t endeared them to Moscow. The Soviet Union is dead, but Russia still likes to consider themselves something of a keeper of our region—an older brother. We’ll watch how the Romanian government develops, but if they resume their genocidal war mongering Russia will put a stop to it. International support would be beneficial—not boots on the ground, of course. The US could simply voice their verbal support. That’s all you’d need to do to score points.”

“Trade, too. Rather boring, but it would be beneficial… We'll keep our ear to the door and inform your government if we have any more ideas.” She leaned back in her chair for a moment. “What does the United States consider an ideal friend or alliance to be?”

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"It has yet to be determined as to whether Russia sees itself as a protective older brother," he said, "or more hungry... like the god Cronos, if you are aware of that story from antiquity."

He then continued to answer the question posed by Ms. Redko. "A good ally will go into battle with you, politically or literally, even when it seems that the odds are against you. An ideal friend has your best interest at heart, just as much as their own... Would you agree?"
GingeOrCringe

 

[GingeOrCringe]

She nodded. “Ideally. Which requires trust—something that will take quite some time for both countries to build, but something that certainly shouldn’t be rushed. Ukraine will approach the Russians regarding The Law of the Sea, as you suggested, and we’ll get them to discuss it with your country’s representatives before any legislation is brought to the heated chamber of the GA.”

She took a sip of her tea. “On the topic of trust, President Yushchenko’s administration is quite eager to prove to you Americans that we are not simply ‘little Russians.’ I suspect this point has become redundant—at least to you Mr. Ambassador—but we repeat it because the distinction is important to us. I’m convinced we have your government’s understanding, but for Ukraine’s friendship with the US to last we’ll require the understanding of your people. Travel and study are two of the best ways to secure this. That is the last point I would like to discuss with you today.

"Ukraine would like to ease Americans’ access to our visas. This is unconditional and I suspect it will be implemented in the coming weeks. However, we would like the US to consider the possibility of a student exchange program. If this is something you would be interested in discussing further I'll inform the Ministry of Education and a more detailed plan can be proposed."

Odinson