Addressing the US Congress, he called on Washington to provide Kiev with “more military equipment, lethal and non-lethal” to “keep peace” in the east of his country.
While President Barack Obama previously pledged only non-lethal assistance to Kiev, such as bullet-proof vests and helmets, Poroshenko said this would not be enough.
"Blankets and night-vision goggles are important, but one cannot win the war with blankets.
You cannot keep the peace with a blanket," he said, adding that Ukraine urgently needs "more military equipment, both lethal and non-lethal."
As his statement drew applause from the audience, the Ukrainian leader went on to call on NATO for closer ties.
"I strongly encourage the United States to give Ukraine a special security and defense status which reflect the highest level of interaction with a non-NATO ally," he said..............................http://rt.com/news/188808-poroshenko-usa-nato-lethal/
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Poroshenko Seeks Stronger US Support, Asks Congress for US Arms Supplies...
ReplyDeleteWASHINGTON, September 18 (RIA Novosti) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday made an emotional appeal to the US Congress in an attempt to convince the US lawmakers that Ukraine is "on the forefront of the fight for democracy" and needs strong support, including supplies of weaponry from the United States.
"We cannot win the war with the blankets," Poroshenko said addressing a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the Senate during his first visit to United States since his inauguration.
"We need stronger political support throughout the world, and military equipment, both lethal and non-lethal," he said.
He also reiterated Ukraine's drive for closer ties with NATO in a form of a 'special' security status.
Poroshenko also called on the United States to be consistent in imposing new sanctions against Russia.
The Ukrainian leader arrived in Washington on Thursday to meet with US President Barack Obama, US congressmen, and give a speech at the Atlantic Council think-tank. His main goal was to ask for more economic and military aid.
The United States have already offered over $60 million of non-lethal aid to Ukraine and staged two military exercises on the country's territory.
On Wednesday, following Poroshenko's visit to Canada, Ottawa offered Ukraine a $200 million loan to help restore its economy and ensure the country's social stability.
Ukraine is currently on the verge of a default, with the country's authorities trying to rescue its economy with international loans, including a $17 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, aimed to support Ukraine's struggling economy.
To receive the IMF funds in full, Ukraine agreed to a severe austerity program that includes shedding 24,000 government jobs, raising taxes, selling off state assets and withdrawing subsidies on natural gas.
http://en.ria.ru/world/20140918/193060380/Poroshenko-Seeks-Stronger-US-Support-Asks-Congress-for-US-Arms.html
18/9/14
Crimée: pas de règlement militaire du problème (Porochenko)...
ReplyDeleteLe problème de la Crimée va s'éterniser, mais la solution militaire n'est pas envisagée, a déclaré jeudi le président ukrainien Piotr Porochenko, intervenant au Congrès des Etats-Unis.
"Rien ne nous fera accepter l'occupation de la Crimée (…). Je ne parle évidemment pas de la solution militaire du problème criméen qui va perdurer", a souligné le chef de l'Etat ukrainien................http://fr.ria.ru/world/20140918/202469094.html
FACT SHEET: U.S. Support for Ukraine (The White House, Office of the Press Secretary)....
ReplyDeleteThe United States is firmly committed to supporting Ukraine as it works to establish security and stability, respond to humanitarian and reconstruction needs, conduct democratic elections and carry out constitutional reforms, restore its economy, and combat corruption. Along with our international partners, including the IMF, the United States is committed to supporting Ukraine’s reform agenda while also ensuring that Ukrainians are able to determine their future without intimidation or outside coercion.
In pursuit of these objectives, the U.S. government has provided approximately $291 million in assistance to Ukraine this year as well as a $1 billion loan guarantee. This includes the President’s announcement today of a new package of assistance totaling $53 million, of which:
More than $7 million will be directed to international relief organizations to provide humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict in Ukraine’s east.
$46 million in security assistance will support Ukraine’s military and border guards. This is in addition to the $70 million in security assistance we have previously announced.
The President has also asked U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to lead a U.S. Government delegation to Ukraine September 26-27 to meet with senior Ukrainian government and business leaders and discuss Ukrainian economic reform efforts and the steps that the government needs to take in the short- and medium-term to strengthen its business climate and build an economy that attracts private capital.
The U.S. government will continue to work with Congress to identify additional opportunities for U.S. assistance to Ukraine. For example, the Administration has requested from Congress an additional $45 million in FY 2015 as part of the President’s European Reassurance Initiative that would help build Ukraine’s capacity to provide for its own defense and increase interoperability with U.S. and Western forces.
Examples of U.S. assistance to Ukraine in response to the crisis include the following:................http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/09/18/fact-sheet-us-support-ukraine
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