February 26, 2014, 3:00 p.m.    WASHINGTON, D.C.

TO: NCSJ Leadership and Interested Parties

FROM: Stephen M. Greenberg, Chairman;
Alexander Smukler, NCSJ President;
Mark B. Levin, NCSJ Executive Director

UKRAINE UPDATE #9
 

The instability in Ukraine continues, as opposition parties, Maidan activists and various civic groups negotiate today to determine the new government's composition and the country's future.

The interim government's formation has been delayed as these various groups who share little in common try to reach common ground. The new government is expected to be finalized tomorrow.

The situation in Eastern and Southern Ukraine remains volatile, as pro-Russian demonstrations continue. Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov issued a statement today voicing concern about growing separatist threats in in these regions.

Ukraine is also facing a looming economic crisis. Interim Finance Minister Yury Kolobov said that Ukraine will need $35 billion in foreign assistance by the end of 2015.

Domestic security is also a concern. On Monday night, unidentified assailants threw Molotov cocktails at the newly-built synagogue and Jewish community center in Zaporozhye, in South-Eastern Ukraine. It is unclear whether this was an isolated incident, a provocation on behalf of anti-Maidan forces or an outright anti-Semitic act.

Some voices outside Ukraine and domestically have called for extreme measures against the new government, including boycotting the country and evacuating Ukraine's Jewish community. No one inside the Ukrainian Jewish community supports such extreme measures, nor does the NCSJ.

As we have stated previously, the Jewish community has not been singled out during the political crisis in Ukraine. However, we remain concerned about the general security situation. As we have stated before the Jewish community needs to take appropriate measures to address these security concerns.

During this period of turmoil, NCSJ continues to be in contact with the Ukrainian Jewish community, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, and with those who are trying to form the new government.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns, speaking from Kyiv today, expressed the U.S. government's support for Ukraine's economic recovery, territorial integrity, political stability, and continued healthy relations with its neighbors, including Russia. He also emphasized the "importance of the Rada's efforts to form a multi-party, technical government that represents all regions of Ukraine." He added that there are challenges ahead, but that "the United States stands with the Ukrainian people at this remarkable moment, and we will do all we can to help them build the strong, sovereign and democratic country they so richly deserve."

We will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide you with critical and timely information.

About NCSJ

NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia, founded in 1971, represents the organized American Jewish community in monitoring and advocating on behalf of the estimated 1.5 million Jews living in the 15 successor states of the former Soviet Union.