President Kuchma wants to show that Ukraine matters internationally

Ukraine has been an active participant in Nato's Partnership for Peace programme.

And President Kuchma will see the visit of Lord Robertson as another step in what is beginning to look like an extraordinary personal political rehabilitation.

After surviving months of turmoil, and mass protests over his alleged involvement in the murder of a journalist, last month Mr Kuchma took full advantage of the visit of Pope John Paul II to underline his place as the leader of one of Europe's largest countries.

Now Mr Kuchma can use Lord Robertson's presence in Kiev to show again that Ukraine matters in international affairs.

Ukraine sailors make up part of the Black Sea fleet

He knows, too, that he is on safe ground.

While there are serious doubts about Ukraine's commitment to political and economic reform, Nato has welcomed the enthusiasm with which the former Soviet republic has embraced its Partnership for Peace programme.

This will be highlighted again when the 10-day Sea Breeze 2001 military exercise begins around the Ukrainian port of Odessa on Friday, involving nine Nato members and four countries with Black Sea coasts: Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine.

World stage

Lord Robertson will also discuss Nato-Ukrainian co-operation in Macedonia.

Ukraine has already supplied military equipment to the Macedonian Government in its struggle with Albanian separatists.

But for Mr Kuchma, the substance of the talks with the Nato secretary-general is less important than the very fact that yet again he is hosting an important figure on the world stage.