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#13 - JRL 8235 - JRL Home
Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004
From: "Celeste Wallander" <CWallander@csis.org>
Subject: Ukraine-Russia

A Note to scholars, analysts, and journalists covering Ukraine

I have been disturbed by the number of erroneous press, analytical, and other reports and articles about Zbigniew Brzezinski's visit to Kyiv, May 13-17. Dr. Brzezinski visited Kyiv as part of a CSIS project on Ukraine's western integration, democracy, and the 2004 presidential elections. The trip was initiated and conducted by the CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program. Dr. Brzezinski was accompanied by Richard Murphy, CSIS Senior Associate, and myself. The project is funded by generous grants from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the Smith-Richardson Foundation.

Numerous stories have erroneously reported the Dr. Brzezinski visited Kyiv at the invitation of Viktor Pinchuk, and some that the trip was financed by him. This is incorrect. Dr. Brzezinski did meet with Mr. Pinchuk, was joined by him in a commemoration of the victims of communism at Bykivnia, and appeared on an interview show on a television channel owned by Mr. Pinchuk. Dr. Brzezinski had numerous meetings with Ukrainian government officials, politicians, members of civil society organizations, as well as scholars and students. Many people were generous in helping us to arrange the visit, but the visit was a private, CSIS project.

If anyone has any further questions, I would be happy to do my best to answer them.

Celeste A. Wallander
Director, Russia and Eurasia Program and Trustee Fellow
Center for Strategic and International Studies
1800 K St. NW
Washington DC 20006
Tel: (202)775-3233
Fax: (202)775-3199
Email: cwalland@csis.org.