Conclusion of THE YEAR IN REVIEW pages 7-14 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXIII No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2015 $2.00 Senators urge more military aid Russia escalates war, to allow Ukraine to defend itself dispatches new forces WASHINGTON – Sens. Rob Portman be allowed to succeed. We believe it is time (R-Ohio) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on to increase military assistance to Ukraine February 3 urged President Barack Obama and urge the U.S. and NATO to move quick- and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ly. Despite the welcome imposition of U.S. (NATO) to rapidly increase military assis- and EU sanctions and mounting interna- tance to Ukraine to defend its sovereign bor- tional isolation, Russian President ders against escalating Russian aggression. [Vladimir] Putin appears willing to gamble Sens. Portman and Durbin were joined his country’s economy and world standing by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Sherrod to further his blatant military invasion of Brown (D-Ohio), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), another nation. That he is willing to under- Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John take such a selfish pursuit at the cost of the McCain (R-Ariz.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Russian people’s freedoms, aspirations and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Barbara Boxer talents is only the more tragic. Such a dan- (D-Calif.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Ben Cardin gerous international bully will only stand (D-Md.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Joe Donnelly down when faced with credible resistance.” (D-Ind.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.). The senators also noted: “As Ukrainian Similarly, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko recently ranking member of the Senate Foreign said, ‘Putin fears a Ukraine that demands to Relations Committee, on January 29 wrote live and wants to live and insists on living a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry on European values – with a robust civil advocating the full implementation of the society and freedom of speech and relation Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 and [and] with a system of values the Ukrainian Aleksandr Sinitsa/UNIAN strongly urging the Obama administration people have chosen and laid down their Aidar Battalion members carry the coffin of a fellow fighter on February 2 on “to provide Ukraine with the weapons it lives for.’ We must help her and her fellow Independence Square in Kyiv. needs to defend itself.” Ukrainians succeed. The bipartisan Ukraine In their joint letter, the 15 senators – Freedom Support Act, which passed the by Zenon Zawada the fiercest battle yet at the Donetsk nine Democrats and six Republicans – Congress in December, authorized tighter regional railroad hub of Debaltseve on wrote: “Russia’s affront to established sanctions and such military equipment. We KYIV – The war in Donbas escalated in February 1 and subsequent days. international norms is a direct threat to urge you to take such steps without delay.” recent weeks as Ukrainian forces suffered Evidence has surfaced of the Russian decades of established European security In his letter to Secretary Kerry, Sen. defeat at the ruined Donetsk airport. They government’s direct role in the war’s recent architecture and the democratic aspira- regrouped and two weeks later thwarted tions of the Ukrainian people. It must not (Continued on page 3) Russian forces in what was described as (Continued on page 21) BREAKING NEWS Ukrainian foreign aff airs offi cial optimistic Kerry brings Kyiv funds for humanitarian aid only that aid will come soon from U.S., Europe by Yaro Bihun of this sum under discussion now is in the KYIV – Even as news stories more range of $2 billion to $3 billion for the near and more frequently reported that the WASHINGTON – Ukraine’s Vice-Minister future. The rest should come from Obama administration was considering of Foreign Affairs Vadym Prystayko European Union countries, the International lethal aid to Ukraine, The Washington expressed his optimism that the military Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Post’s Carol Morello reported on and economic aid Ukraine needs to survive Mr. Prystayko said Ukraine does not February 5 that Secretary of State John its current military and economic crises expect to receive the U.S. portion in “one F. Kerry had arrived in Kyiv, “bearing a will soon be forthcoming from the United big envelope,” but it does expect the first modest package of humanitarian aid but States, Europe and major international installment to replace the current “stand- stopping short of offering the expanded organizations. by” program within the next two months. Speaking with journalists at the military assistance sought by Ukraine.” And this could be finalized before Secretary Embassy of Ukraine on January 30, at the She also noted: “Kerry announced on of State John Kerry’s next visit to Ukraine, conclusion of his four-day visit here, Mr. he added. (That visit was scheduled for his arrival that the United States would Prystayko said he discussed the situation in February 5.) provide an additional $16 million in Ukraine and the assistance it needs with Mr. Prystayko said that the military humanitarian aid to buy blankets, repair U.S. officials at the White House and State assistance and coordination needed by homes, obtain wheelchairs and provide Department, and at the Atlantic Council Ukraine changes, pointing out that while counseling for the victims of ongoing and other think tanks. As a result, he said, it military vehicles used to be on top of war in Ukraine. There was no mention was his understanding that the Obama Ukraine’s list in the past, now anti-missile of defensive military equipment.” administration will soon come to an agree- radars are considered very important for Mr. Kerry met with President Petro ment with Congress. the safety of Ukrainian soldiers and civil- Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Military aid is uppermost on Ukraine’s ians – along with continued diplomatic Yatsenyuk. In a joint appearance with needs list, he said, but an estimated $15 bil- pressure and sanctions on Russia. Mr. Poroshenko after their meeting, the Yaro Bihun Ukraine’s Vice-Minister of Foreign lion financial aid package to help stabilize Asked what Ukrainians living abroad can (Continued on page 20) Affairs Vadym Prystayko speaks at the Ukraine’s currency and balance its budget is Embassy of Ukraine. also important. He said that the U.S. portion (Continued on page 20) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2015 No. 6 ANALYSIS Russia grinds down Ukrainian troops Savchenko’s life ‘hangs in the balance’ New charge: illegal border crossing WASHINGTON – U.S. State Department PRAGUE – A lawyer for Nadiya Savchenko while Western support is elusive spokesman Jen Psaki said on February 4 says new a charge has been filed against his that the life of Ukrainian air force officer client. Ilya Novikov wrote on Facebook late on January 29 that she had been charged by Vladimir Socor taining war morale, do not reflect that mili- Nadiya Savchenko “hangs in the balance” with illegal border crossing. On Facebook, Eurasia Daily Monitor tary predicament. after 54 days on a hunger strike in a Having defeated Ukraine in the battle for Russian prison. Ms. Psaki called Lt. Mr. Novikov later posted a letter Lt. Russian and proxy forces are attacking Donetsk airport, Russian and proxy forces Savchenko “a hostage to Russian authori- Savchenko addressed to a jailed Russian Ukrainian positions at multiple points are currently attacking the Ukrainian-held ties” and said Washington demanded her activist, Mark Galperin, in which she wrote along the frontline since mid-January, Debaltseve salient. This is a critical railroad immediate release in accordance with the that she feels “okay and will fight on.” She bringing to bear superior armored forces, and highway junction. Ukrainian control of commitments Russia made under an wrote that “Ukraine and Russia together will unmatched heavy firepower and electronic it is the last major obstacle to the establish- agreement signed in Minsk in September defeat the evil and shameful government.” warfare support. These offensive opera- ment of direct transportation links of last year. A court in Moscow announced Russian officials have rejected calls by Kyiv tions are mostly positional and attritional between the Donetsk and Luhansk “peo- on February 4 that it would issue a ruling and the West for her release. (RFE/RL) for the time being, with a distinct potential ple’s republics.” Conversely, DPR-LPR con- on February 10 about whether to grant a Will U.S. arms go to Ukraine? for breakthrough and forward movement trol of Debaltseve would enable them to request by Russia’s Investigative into Ukrainian-controlled territory. The reliably unify their territories, infrastruc- Committee to extend Lt. Savchenko’s pre- WASHNGTON – A senior official said on objectives are to grind down Ukrainian ture and military forces as well as, ulti- trial detention until May 13. Lt. Savchenko February 4 that Vice- President Joe Biden forces, bite off additional chunks of mately, achieve the political unification of began her hunger strike on December 13, would meet in Europe with German Ukrainian territory the two “republics.” 2014, to protest her incarceration by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian and compel Kyiv to Russian and proxy Bereft of Western Russian authorities. She was transferred to President Petro Poroshenko later this week request another forces have not man- the hospital ward at Moscow’s notorious to discuss expanded sanctions against armistice on Russian military assistance, aged to encircle the Russia and possible U.S. security assistance terms, as a last resort Matrosskaya Tishina detention center on Ukraine is facing Ukrainian forces in for Ukraine.