Obama urges global help for Ukraine

US President Obama urged the world Wednesday to help Ukraine as it faces economic challenges, threats and separatist violence in the eastern part of Poroshenko's nation. Poroshenko selection as president of the country became "reasonable solution" to the current situation in Ukraine.

"The United States is absolutely committed to standing behind the Ukrainian people not just in the coming days weeks but in the coming years," Obama said after his first face-toface meeting with Ukraine President-elect Petro Poroshenko.

• Unfortunately enough Mr. Obama & Mr. Kerry did not comment on recent GENOCIDE in Eastern states of Ukraine and once again world could see REAL Faces of the TWO LEADERS.

Obama also announced an increase in non-lethal aid to Ukraine's military, a package that ranges from training to night vision goggles and other equipment. A White House report released Wednesday said that the Obama "has approved more than $23 million in additional defensive security assistance since early March."

So far, the administration has resisted calls to send weapons to Ukraine. In previewing his meeting with Poroshenko, Obama said Tuesday that, "during this crisis, we have provided them nonlethal assistance that's been critical for them."

Poroshenko, who spoke in English, thanked Obama and the U.S. for "continuous" support, which he called "crucially important."

The U.S. and Ukraine leaders discussed energy security.

Ukraine receives much of its energy supplies from Russia, which has often wielded its oil and gas supplies as diplomatic weapons. As Ukraine seeks alternate supplies, Obama said, "they're very concerned about making sure that energy is in place as winter comes up."

Poroshenko won the presidency last month in Ukraine's first election since the overthrow of a pro-Russian government earlier this year.

Other nations, including the United States, have accused Russia of instigating violence in eastern and southern Ukraine.

The United States and allies have hit Russia with sanctions, and Obama said there will be more forthcoming if Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to encourage divisions in his neighboring nation. Obama said Putin must recognize and respect Poroshenko's new government if Russia is to rebuild trust with the west.

• Obama and Poroshenko are both in Warsaw to celebrate the 25th anniversary of free elections in Poland.

• Poroshenko, who will be sworn in as Ukraine's new president on Saturday, also met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who said the new leader deserves U.S. support.

• "He won everywhere, and clearly has been given a mandate to try to lead the country into a new era," Kerry said.

indian.ruvr.ru
4/6/14
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Related:

• Events in Ukraine’s south-east surpass all sad records. (Russia’s FM Commissioner for Human Rights)

• L'Otan soutient l'opération dans l'est de l'Ukraine (Kiev)

• Russia urges Russia-NATO Council to demand that Kiev stops military operation

• NATO Defence Ministers discuss collective defence, Summit priorities

• Defence Ministers to focus on collective defence, Wales Summit

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• Moscow calls for probe of air strike on east Ukraine's Lugansk

• At least 5 dead after Ukrainian Air Force strike on Lugansk self-defense forces

  • Russia’s investigators pledge to prosecute those guilty in civilians’ deaths in Ukraine

• U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine (The White House)

 

Office of the Press Secretary, June 04, 2014:

The United States is working to bolster Ukraine’s ability to secure its borders and preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty in the face of Russian occupation of Crimea and a concerted effort by Russian-backed separatists to destabilize eastern Ukraine.  President Obama has approved more than $23 million in additional defensive security assistance since early March.
This assistance includes:

• A new tranche of $5 million for the provision of body armor, night vision goggles, and additional communications equipment.  This is in addition to the approximately 300,000 Meals Ready to Eat (delivered in March), as well as assistance for the provision of materiel using Foreign Military Financing to support Ukraine’s armed forces with medical supplies, service member equipment (e.g., helmets, sleeping mats, water purification units), explosive ordnance disposal equipment, and handheld radios.
• The United States also has allocated Cooperative Threat Reduction funding to support Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service with supplies (e.g., clothing, shelters, small power generators and hand fuel pumps, engineering equipment, communications equipment, vehicles, and non-lethal individual tactical gear). 
• To date, Embassy Kyiv has purchased and delivered 20-person shelters, sleeping bags, fuel filter adapters, barbed wire, patrol flashlights, perimeter alarm systems, fuel pumps, concertina wire, vehicle batteries, spare tires, binoculars, excavators, trucks, generators, food storage freezers, field stoves, and communications gear to the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service, for use in monitoring and securing their borders.

Senior Leader Engagement

• On April 1, senior U.S. defense officials met with their Ukrainian counterparts in Kyiv for bilateral defense consultations, during which they held substantive discussions on regional security, defense cooperation, and areas for growth in the U.S.-Ukraine defense relationship.
• Senior defense officials met with Ukrainian counterparts in Kyiv in early June to discuss ongoing U.S.-Ukraine defense cooperation and U.S. support to Ukraine’s defense reform efforts.
• In early June, U.S. European Command will hold a general/flag officer steering group meeting with Ukrainian counterparts in Kyiv to set the strategic direction for future military-to-military cooperation.

[whitehouse.gov]