Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, visits frontline city, vows to defend it

MARIUPOL Ukraine - President Petro Poroshenko visited the eastern Ukrainian port of Mariupol on Monday in a show of solidarity with its embattled citizens and vowed to defend it from pro-Russian separatists who advanced towards it last week before a ceasefire agreement.

"This is our Ukrainian land and we will not give it up to anybody," he wrote on his Twitter account.

On arriving in the city of 500,000, which is vital for Ukraine's steel exports, Poroshenko said: "I have ordered (the military) to secure the defense of Mariupol with ... multiple rocket-launchers, tanks ... and air cover ... The enemy will suffer a crushing defeat." 
REUTERS
http://www.todayonline.com/world/ukraines-president-visits-frontline-city-vows-defend-it
8/9/14
--
-
Related:

• President Petro Poroshenko visited the south-eastern Ukrainian port of Mariupol Monday in a show of solidarity with its embattled citizens, some of whom have been digging trenches around the city of 500,000 to protect it from pro-Russia rebels.

• Le président ukrainien Petro Porochenko est arrivé lundi à Marioupol. Le président, portant l'uniforme militaire, a tweeté à son arrivée que les rebelles prorusses avaient commencé à tirer sur des postes de contrôle à la périphérie de Marioupol en apprenant qu'il devait se rendre pour la première fois dans la ville depuis le début du conflit : "ils pensaient qu'ils m'effrayeraient. Mais personne n'a peur d'eux", a-t-il écrit.