The French have a saying that the more things change the more they stay the same. It seems that this can also be said about the newly improved, seemingy flourishing ties between Ukraine and Russia. With pro-Ukrainian Viktor Yushchenko gone, the new Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, and Premier Mykola Azarov lost no time trying to mend what they regarded as broken ties. And the number of meetings between Azaroz and counterpart Vladimir Putin are merely testimony of this. However, one thing that remains a permanent fixture is Moscow mayor Yuriy Luzhkov´s statements about the status of Sevastopol. Any hopes that the Luzhkov component to Ukrainian-Russian ties would go away with the arrival of the new authorities have been misguided. Though in times past, during Leonid Kuchma’s reign, Lukhkov would afford himself the luxury of making provocative statements on Ukrainian territory, last week he did so in the comfort of the Russian capital.

Though the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s response to Luzhkov’s statement that Sevastopol should become a Russian city was tardy, it did assert that the statements go against good-neighbourly relations between Kyiv and Moscow. Luzhkov was declared persona non grata back in May 2008 for making the same comments on Sevastopol. At that time he said that Sevastopol was not handed over to Ukraine and so the issue remains unresolved. However, Luzhkov, who visited Crimea recently, says he was invited by Yanukovych to celebrate the latter’s 60th birthday bash.  It seems strange for the president to invite someone who has continually and consistently questioned the territorial integrity of the country he leads. Back in May 2008 there were suggestions by the Security Service of Ukraine that Luzhkov could be investigated regarding allegations of involvement in money laundering in Sevastopol.  In February 2009 Security Service chief Valentyn Nalyvaychenko called the mayor of Moscow a provocateur who violates Ukrainian legislation by calling into question the country´s territorial integrity. Though it is not clear whether Luzhkov’s words are approved by the Kremlin, they are definitely not in the spirit of mutual ties between neighbouring countries. They also fly in the face of the goodwill shown by the Ukrainian authorities towards Russia in recent months.    

With the parliamentary opposition calling for the Moscow mayor to be declared persona non grata again, and Luzhkov stating he will never change his stance on Sevastopol´s status, it is time for the Ukrainian authorities to get a tough stance towards him. After all, Ukrainian officials and politicians would not afford themselves the liberty of making such controversial comments about the territory of another state. Turning a blind eye or deaf ear is likely to merely encourage him.

Flying start

The Farnborough International Airshow, one of the world´s iconic global aviation events, gives manufacturers a great chance to showcase their wares. The early signs suggest that the latest FIA held 19-25 July in UK, brought Ukrainian firms orders.  One deal, signed between leasing company Ilyushin Finance and world-renowned Ukrainian plane maker Antonov, envisages the sale of 10 An-158 planes and the option of 10 more for Russian carriers. The An-158 successfully carried out its maiden flight three months ago and Antonov hopes to receive the certificate for it by the end of this year.  Furthermore, Zaporizhzhya-based engine maker Motor Sich is teaming up with Russia´s United Aircraft Corporation to develop a new transport plane for the Indian Air Force. Motor Sich CEO Vyacheslav Bohuslayev revealed the news at Farnborough and confirmed that the new plane will be developed on the basis of  An-178. The news came days after the announcement that a Ukrainian-Russian JV, which will coordinate the work of the two countries’ aviation industries, will start work in October. The president of the United Aircraft Corporation Aleksey Fedorov  said the mergeer would take up to two years. He said a more rapid merger is being hindered by legal issues regarding the form of ownership of Ukrainian enterprises. And that is a good thing. Clearly there is demand for Ukrainian aviation production, as orders show. What is worrying that Fedorov noted that merger envisages that Antonov will become part of the Irkut corporation and aircraft made in Ukraine under the Antonov brand will become UAC aircraft. The political aspect aside, mergers involving companies which have taken decades to grow and develop should not take place in an instant, and intellectual property and rights should be duly protected. To do otherwise would be selling out the country´s economic interests for future generations.