The Ukrainian Weekly, 2017
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ХРИСТОС НАРОДИВСЯ! CHRIST IS BORN! THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXV No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 $2.00 New OSCE chief visits war-torn Donbas; U.S. senators vow no ‘Faustian bargain’ Kyiv cites massive Russian cyber attacks with Russia, pledge to target Putin ‘harder’ by Mark Raczkiewycz der with Russia and carry out local elec- tions in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. KYIV – The new chairperson-in-office of However, the OSCE’s mandate to monitor the Organization for Security and the implementation of the truce measures Cooperation in Europe chose war-torn has been compromised from the start. Its Ukraine for his first foreign visit as the monitors from 44 participating states, of leader of the 57-state organization. whom 39 are from Russia as of December Having announced that part of his mission 21, haven’t been given unfettered access in would be to “defuse conflicts” during his the war zone, including the border areas year-long chairmanship, Austria’s Foreign where Russia continues to transport sol- Affairs Minister Sebastian Kurz visited the diers, weapons and other supplies. frontline village of Shyrokyne in Donetsk “Together we have to make Russia Oblast along the Azov Sea coast on January 4. implement [the] Minsk [peace agreement],” Mr. Kurz noted that the OSCE, whose Ukraine Foreign Affairs Minister Pavlo 693 monitors have a mandate to monitor Klimkin tweeted after the joint news con- ceasefire efforts in the Donbas war, isn’t ference with Mr. Kurz. “First of all – security satisfied with the current “status quo” in issues, give the OSCE access to the Ukraine- eastern Ukraine. Russian border and release hostages.” “This visit is supposed to signify in the Ukraine had 217 servicemen killed in first place that we aren’t happy with the combat last year, according to official data. status quo and we want to put forth effort In all, some 10,000 people have died in the Mikhail Palinchak/UNIAN so that changes lead to improvement,” he Donbas War, the United Nations reports, A delegation of the U.S. Senate joined Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on a adding that about 1.7 million people have said at a news conference in Mariupol, working trip to the Donetsk region. The delegation included Sens. John McCain, been displaced. Lindsey Graham and Amy Klobuchar, and was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to some 30 kilometers west of Shyrokyne. About 5,000 regular Russian soldiers are Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. “I send the message from the American people – we are Despite never taking hold since the truce in occupied Donbas, Defense Minister with you, your fight is our fight, and we will win together,” Sen. McCain was quoted was brokered in Minsk in February 2015, Stepan Poltorak said on January 3. Moscow as saying by Ukrainian President Poroshenko’s press service. Mr. Kurz reiterated that the agreement is also has 600 tanks, 1,300 combat vehicles, the only option for implementing peace 760 artillery weapons and 300 multiple- RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service aimed at ending the conflict in eastern and the measures that Ukraine and Russia rocket launch systems in eastern Ukraine, Ukraine, where more than 9,750 people agreed to fulfill. he added. KYIV – Sen. John McCain says that the have died since April 2014. Besides ceasing combat, both sides The OSCE chief’s visit was preceded by United States will not strike a “Faustian “How can you have a free and fair elec- were to pull back military hardware and that of three U.S. senators to the same bargain” with Russian President Vladimir tion or debate about the power-sharing release all prisoners; Ukraine was sup- Putin, amid speculation that President- with eastern Ukraine when you have 700 posed to regain control of its eastern bor- (Continued on page 3) elect Donald Trump could scrap sanctions Russian tanks [in eastern Ukraine]?” Sen. in a bid to improve ties. Graham said. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Asked whether Mr. Trump may recog- RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service in Kyiv on nize Crimea as part of Russia, Sen. Graham Poroshenko on 25th anniversary December 30 along with two other U.S. said Congress would block any such move. senators, Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) said any “The president alone can’t do this. And the of Ukraine-U.S. diplomatic relations possible deal with Mr. Putin “would inter- reason the Congress will reject such a fere with and undermine the freedom and notion is because it undermines the rule of Presidential Administration of Ukraine nium, Ukraine plays a historic role in the democracies that exist today.” law,” he explained. enhancement of global stability and The U.S. Congress imposed sanctions on Sen. McCain also called for tougher KYIV – “Since the recognition of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. These Moscow shortly after Russia forcibly action against Moscow for its alleged independence of Ukraine, the United have been tough decisions, but Ukraine annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in involvement in hacks into Democratic Party States have remained a reliable and stra- made them relying on the assurances March 2014 and for its ongoing support for e-mails before the November 8 U.S. presi- tegic partner of Ukraine at bilateral level and security guarantees of foreign part- pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine. dential election. and within international organizations,” ners, first of all, the U.S.A.,” the Ukrainian Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said “We can make them a lot tougher, ranging President Petro Poroshenko stated on president said. Congress would pursue in 2017 more sanc- from travel to identifying individuals who January 3. Mr. Poroshenko expressed special tions against Russia, targeting the energy have been involved in this hacking and specif- In his greetings on the occasion of the gratitude for the constant bipartisan sup- and banking sectors, as well as “Putin and ic organizations. There are a lot more strin- 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations port of the U.S. for Ukraine’s sovereignty his inner circle.” gent measures we should take,” Sen. McCain between Ukraine and the United States, and territorial integrity during these dif- “We’re going to do two things: We’re said. “After all, it was an attack on the United Mr. Poroshenko noted: “A true democrat- ficult times of Russian aggression, when going after Putin harder with tougher sanc- States of America and an attack on the funda- ic partnership has been established the Ukrainian state is defending the key tions and we’re going to be more helpful to mentals of our democracy. If you destroy the between the two states, in the frame- principles of freedom and democracy our friends, like here in Ukraine,” Sen. elections, then you destroy democracy.” work of which the United States contin- that laid the foundation for the success Graham said. U.S. President Barack Obama on ues to provide invaluable practical assis- and strength of the American people. Sens. McCain, Graham and Amy December 29 ordered the expulsion of 35 tance in the development of state insti- The president emphasized Ukraine’s Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said there is strong Russian diplomats and imposed sanctions tutes, civil society, market economy and firm resolve to further facilitate its strate- support in Congress to provide Ukraine on two Russian intelligence agencies over security reinforcement of our country.” gic partnership with the U.S. with a view with “lethal defensive weapons” to help Kyiv what the administration says was their “Having abandoned the third [largest] toward enhancing comprehensive con- in its fight against Russia-backed separatists involvement in the hacking. nuclear arsenal in the world and a large structive cooperation in the political, in the east. Mr. Putin said on December 30 that volume of traditional weaponry, as well security, economic and humanitarian The senators faulted Moscow for failing Moscow would not respond in kind and as the stockpiles of highly enriched ura- spheres. to fulfill its obligations under the Minsk accords – a February 2015 agreement (Continued on page 11) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 No. 2 ANALYSIS Europe seeks consolidation in the face President delivers New Year’s address ment noting: “The United States expresses its deep concern over the offensive com- KYIV – Ukraine’s President Petro bined Russian-separatist forces launched of cyber and information threats by Russia Poroshenko, in his New Year’s address on on Sunday, December 18, in what appears December 31, stated, “Not only children, to have been a failed attempt to seize terri- by Sergey Sukhankin against both individual EU members and but everyone, irrespective of age, believe in key European organizations and institu- tory in strategic areas outside the town of Eurasia Daily Monitor miracles. Especially in this festive time, tions. For instance, on November 25, a Svitlodarsk, near separatist-held which begins with St. Nicholas and ends On November 23, 2016, the European hacker attack on the EU Commission net- Debaltseve. This brazen contravention of with Epiphany. Especially this night, when Parliament adopted a non-binding resolu- work, although not causing irreparable Russia’s commitments under the Minsk New Year comes and fills our hearts with tion aimed at consolidating the European damage, once again brought to light the agreements is an issue of the utmost con- countries in countering Russian propagan- general weakness of the EU in the area of joy, faith and hope. There are more grounds cern to the OSCE, and we agree with da and preventing cyber attacks. The reso- cyber security, its susceptibility to external for optimism than a year ago.” He went on Ukraine that there should have been a spe- lution included strong language stressing threats and the absence of a palpable com- to note: It still will not be easy, but the cial Permanent Council meeting called to that the European Parliament is “seriously mon strategy.