The decade of 2000 marked the start of Ukraine becoming a de facto member of NATO. It not only participated in all of the main exercises, but it hosted many. In fact, between 2000 and 2010, Ukraine is ranked in the top six of countries that hosted a NATO or USEUCOM exercise. Ukraine and Georgia, who was ranked number seven, were not NATO members. What the hell? Two non-NATO countries hosted more NATO exercises than 22 of the member nations. This is prima facie evidence that the West, despite warnings from Russia, was intent on making Ukraine and Georgia official members of NATO.
Only two things distinguished Ukraine from NATO members — it did not have a financial obligation to contribute to NATO and it was not covered by Article 5. Other than that, Ukraine was operating as a de facto member of NATO by 2010.
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Project Ukraine was not confined to military cooperation alone. US and UK intelligence organizations were actively involved in Ukraine and were coordinating operations and activities with both NATO and EUCOM. The CIA, for example, has intelligence officers assigned to NATO and USEUCOM headquarters. There job is to brief senior leaders on CIA operations and coordinate activities to ensure no wires get crossed. With the benefit of hindsight, it is now clear that during the period between 2000 and 2010, the US government, with collaboration from the UK, was working intently to split Ukraine away from Russia’s sphere of influence and capture it for the West.
Note: My chats with Nima and Judge Napolitano are posted at the end of this article.
2000
Cooperative Partner 2000:
The principal NATO-led military exercise conducted with Ukraine in 2000 was Exercise Cooperative Partner 2000. This exercise took place from 19 June to 1 July 2000 in the Black Sea and the area around Odessa, Ukraine. The exercise involved forces from NATO’s Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED) and the Standing Mine Counter-Measures Force Mediterranean (MCMFORMED), along with participants from ten NATO countries and six partner nations. Russia attended as an observer. The main objective was to train multinational forces to work together for peace support operations, enhancing interoperability and cooperation between NATO and partner countries.
Peace Shield 2000 (May–June 2000)
- Type: Command Post Exercise (CPX) + Field Training
- Participants:
- Ukraine (primary host)
- NATO/PfP: U.S., UK, Germany, Poland, Canada, and others.
- Observed by: Russia (under PfP, despite tensions over NATO-Ukraine cooperation).
- Objectives:
- Train for multinational peacekeeping operations (e.g., Kosovo-style scenarios).
- Improve C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) interoperability.
- Test Ukraine’s ability to integrate with NATO-standard procedures.
- Notable Elements:
Cooperative Determination 2000 (September 2000)
- Type: Maritime/Search-and-Rescue (SAR) Exercise
- Location: Odessa and Black Sea waters
- Participants:
- Naval forces: Ukraine, U.S. (USS Yorktown), Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia.
- USEUCOM provided P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft.
- Objectives:
- Counter-piracy, SAR, and maritime interdiction operations.
- First major Black Sea exercise with Ukraine post-Cold War.
- Political Context:Russia criticized the exercise as “NATO expansionism” but participated as an observer.
- Demonstrated Ukraine’s push for Black Sea security partnerships amid rising regional tensions.
Cossack Steppe 2000 (Summer 2000)
- Type: Bilateral Field Training Exercise (FTX)
- Location: Desna Training Center (Chernihiv Oblast) & other sites
- Participants: Ukrainian Army + U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) advisors.
- Focus:
- Peacekeeping tactics (e.g., convoy security, checkpoint operations).
- Medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and combat engineer drills.
- Legacy:
- Part of the U.S.-Ukraine Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP), launched in 1994 to aid Ukraine’s military reform.
- Paved the way for future exercises like Rapid Trident (post-2006).
In 2000, the United States European Command (USEUCOM) executed its first Military Contact Plan with Ukraine, following the transfer of responsibility for U.S. military engagement in Ukraine from the Joint Staff to EUCOM in late 1998. The 2000 plan was developed collaboratively with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and included a variety of military-to-military events, such as planning meetings, medical, legal, and chaplain exchanges, and other cooperative activities. These events were designed to align with specific objectives and priorities identified by both sides.
2001
Cossack Express 2001 (April–May 2001)
- Location: Ukraine (multiple sites)
- Participants: Ukrainian forces, U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR), and NATO advisors.
- Focus: Logistics, medical training, and crisis response.
- Significance: Aimed at improving Ukraine’s ability to support international peacekeeping missions.
Sea Breeze 2001 (July 16–27, 2001)
- Location: Black Sea (near Odessa and Crimea, Ukraine)
- Participants: Ukraine, U.S. (USEUCOM/NATO), and other NATO partners.
- Focus: Maritime security, search and rescue (SAR), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and amphibious operations.
- Significance: Part of the annual “Sea Breeze” series (started in 1997), enhancing interoperability between Ukraine and NATO.
Cooperative Determination 2001 (September 2001)
- Location: Yavoriv Training Area, Ukraine (near Lviv)
- Participants: Ukraine, U.S. (USEUCOM), and NATO allies.
- Focus: Peacekeeping operations (PKO), command post exercises (CPX), and joint maneuvers.
- Significance: Part of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, improving Ukraine’s readiness for multinational operations.
Clear Sky 2001 (October 2001)
- Location: Starokostiantyniv Air Base, Ukraine
- Participants: Ukrainian Air Force, U.S. Air Force (USAFE), and NATO partners.
- Focus: Air defense, search and rescue (SAR), and airspace coordination.
- Significance: Strengthened Ukraine’s air force interoperability with NATO standards.
2002
Cossack Express 2002″ (March–April 2002)
- Location: Ukraine (multiple regions)
- Participants: Ukrainian National Guard, U.S. National Guard (State Partnership Program), and other NATO advisors.
- Focus: Disaster response, counter-terrorism, and crisis management.
- Significance: Strengthened civil-military cooperation and emergency response coordination.
Cooperative Partner 2002″ (June 2002)
- Location: Yavoriv Training Area (Lviv region, Ukraine)
- Participants: Ukraine, U.S. (USEUCOM), NATO members (including Poland, Germany, Canada), and Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries.
- Focus: Peacekeeping operations (PKO), command-post exercises (CPX), joint staff coordination.
- Significance: Part of NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, aimed at preparing Ukrainian forces for potential NATO-led peacekeeping missions.
Sea Breeze 2002 (July–August 2002)
- Location: Black Sea (near Odesa and Mykolaiv, Ukraine)
- Participants: Ukraine, U.S. (USEUCOM/NATO), and other NATO allies (including Turkey, UK, Greece, etc.)
- Focus: Maritime security, amphibious operations, search and rescue (SAR), anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
- Significance: Part of the annual “Sea Breeze” series (ongoing since 1997), enhancing interoperability between Ukraine and NATO naval forces.
Other Engagements:
- Ukraine also participated in NATO/PfP exercises such as “Cooperative Key” (a command-post exercise) and “Cooperative Nugget”, focusing on interoperability in peace support operations.
2003
In 2003, Ukraine participated in several notable military exercises with NATO and U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), reflecting its growing partnership with the Alliance and Western militaries. Some key exercises included:
Cooperative Archer 2003 (June 2003 – Lithuania)
- A NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) exercise focused on peacekeeping operations.
- Involved Ukrainian troops training alongside NATO forces in command post and field exercises.
- Aimed at enhancing interoperability between NATO and partner nations.
Sea Breeze 2003 (July 2003 – Black Sea, Ukraine)
- A U.S.-Ukraine co-led maritime exercise under the Partnership for Peace program.
- Focused on naval interoperability, search and rescue (SAR), and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
- Participating nations included the U.S. (USEUCOM), Ukraine, NATO allies, and other partners.
Cossack Express 2003 (September 2003 – Ukraine)
- A command post exercise (CPX) involving Ukrainian forces and NATO/PfP partners.
- Focused on crisis response and peace support operations.
- Part of Ukraine’s efforts to align its military doctrines with NATO standards.
Combined Endeavor 2003 (September-October 2003 – Germany)
- A large-scale communications and interoperability exercise led by USEUCOM.
- Ukrainian forces participated alongside NATO and partner nations to improve military data-sharing and command systems.
Clear Sky 2003 (October 2003 – Ukraine)
- A joint air defense exercise involving Ukrainian, U.S., and other NATO/PfP forces.
- Focused on airspace coordination and air-missile defense cooperation.
In March 2003, Ukraine finalized its 2003 Target Plan within the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan framework. This plan provided for intensified military cooperation, consultations, and preparation for large-scale military exercises, including international ones. These activities were part of a broader effort to align Ukraine’s military standards and procedures with those of NATO, as well as to test military equipment and armaments
in a multinational context.
2004
In 2004, Ukraine participated in several significant military exercises with NATO and U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), reflecting its growing partnership with the Alliance and Western militaries following the 2002 NATO-Ukraine Action Plan. Key exercises included:
Cossack Express 2004 (Spring 2004)
- Location: Yavoriv Training Area, Lviv Oblast (Western Ukraine)
- Participants: Ukraine, U.S. Army Europe (USEUCOM), and NATO partners.
- Ukrainian Participants: 24th Mechanized Brigade (Yavoriv) – Trained with U.S. Army Europe’s 1st Infantry Division on peacekeeping logistics.
- National Guard Units – Drilled on crowd control (later relevant during the Orange Revolution protests).
- NATO Link: The Yavoriv Training Area later became the Combat Training Center for NATO partners (2015 onward).
- Focus: Peacekeeping drills, command post exercises (CPX), and logistical coordination.
- Significance: Aimed at preparing Ukrainian troops for potential contributions to NATO-led missions (e.g., Kosovo or Iraq).
Rapid Answer 2004 (June 2004)
- Location: Poland and Ukraine (joint border areas)
- Participants: Ukraine, Poland (a newly NATO-acceded member), and other Allied forces.
- Focus: Rapid deployment, crisis response, and interoperability with NATO forces.
- Significance: Demonstrated Ukraine’s role in regional security alongside NATO’s eastern flank.
Sea Breeze 2004 (July–August 2004)
- Location: Black Sea (Odessa and Crimea regions)
- Participants: Ukraine, U.S. Navy (USEUCOM), NATO allies (including Turkey, UK, France), and partner nations.
- Focus: Maritime security, anti-terrorism, search-and-rescue (SAR), and naval interoperability.
- Significance: Part of the annual “Sea Breeze” series (ongoing since 1997), enhancing Black Sea regional security cooperation.
Cooperative Determination 2004 (August 2004)
- Location: Crimea, Ukraine (Feodosia training area)
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- Participants: Ukrainian Armed Forces, NATO members (including the U.S., UK, Germany, Poland, and others)
- Focus: Peacekeeping operations, interoperability with NATO standards.
- Significance: Part of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, emphasizing joint command structures and crisis response.
Political Fallout & Long-Term Impact
- Russian Reaction:
- Moscow accused NATO of “encroachment” and pressured Ukraine to join the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) instead.
- Domestic Divide:
- Pro-Western factions (e.g., Viktor Yushchenko’s bloc) praised the drills, while pro-Russian groups (Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions) opposed them.
- 2008 NATO Summit:
- Ukraine’s 2004 exercises built momentum for its eventual Membership Action Plan (MAP) bid, though blocked by German/French hesitancy.
