INSIDE: UWC leadership meets with Zelenskyy – page 3 Lomachenko adds WBC title to his collection – page 15 Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations – pages 16-17 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association, Inc., celebrating W its 125th anniversaryEEKLY Vol. LXXXVII No. 36 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019 $2.00 Trump considers suspension of military aid Zelenskyy team takes charge to Ukraine, angering U.S. lawmakers as new Rada begins its work RFE/RL delay. Unless, of course, he’s yet again act- ing at the behest of his favorite Russian dic- U.S. President Donald Trump is consid- tator & good friend, Putin,” the Illinois sena- ering blocking $250 million in military aid tor tweeted. to Ukraine, Western media reported, rais- Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a member of ing objections from lawmakers of both U.S. the House Foreign Affairs Committee, tweet- political parties. ed that “This is unacceptable. It was wrong Citing senior administration officials, when [President Barack] Obama failed to Politico and Reuters reported that Mr. stand up to [Russian President Vladimir] Trump had ordered a reassessment of the Putin in Ukraine, and it’s wrong now.” aid program that Kyiv uses to battle Russia- The administration officials said chances backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. are that the money will be allocated as The review is to “ensure the money is usual but that the determination will not be being used in the best interest of the United made until the review is completed and Mr. States,” Politico said on August 28, and Trump makes a final decision. means that Mr. Trump is considering block- The federal fiscal year ends on ing the funding. September 30. “The president has made no secret when The United States has supported it comes to foreign assistance that U.S. Ukraine since Russia forcibly seized its interests abroad should be prioritized and Crimean peninsula in March 2014 and other foreign countries should also be pay- started backing militants in Ukraine’s east- Vladislav Musienko/UNIAN ing their fair share,” Reuters quoted one ern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in official as saying on August 29. April 2014 in a conflict that has killed more Ukraine’s new prime minister, Oleksiy Honcharuk (left), with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the first day of the new Verkhovna Rada’s work, August 29. The White House did not immediately than 13,000 people. comment on the reports. Washington has given Ukraine more by Bohdan Nahaylo removing the immunity from prosecution Responding to the reports, Dick Durbin, than $3 billion in aid, including $1.5 billion that national deputies had enjoyed and ini- an influential Democratic senator, said that in lethal and nonlethal military goods over KYIV – It has been a momentous 10 days tiating many other changes, some of which this will put “Ukraine’s long-term stability the past five years, and is advising the or so in Ukrainian politics, both within and will require amendments to the at risk.” country on the reform of its armed forces. around the Verkhovna Rada. The new Constitution of Ukraine. “President Trump must direct [the Parliament dominated by President A new government has been created – Defense Department] to obligate these Based on reporting by Politico, CNN, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of People funds immediately – there’s no reason to Reuters and Interfax. party has gotten off to a frenetic start, (Continued on page 8) Toronto boasts North America’s largest celebration of Ukrainian Independence Day by Nadia Prokopiw TORONTO – North America’s largest cel- ebration of the 28th anniversary of Ukrainian independence, organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Toronto Branch, took place in Toronto at Centennial Park on Saturday August 24. The event was blessed with beautiful weather, attended by thousands, greeted by representatives from the federal, provincial and municipal governments, charmed by songstress Oksana Mukha – “The Voice of Ukraine” – and featured the country’s top dance and vocal ensembles. The crowds started pouring in at 10 a.m. to enjoy many vendors’ booths, displays, Ukrainian food and a succession of promi- nent entertainment. They watched as Ms. Mukha mesmerized the huge audience and then danced the night away under the stars to the music of the band Dunai. The UCC Toronto, together with its very generous sponsors, again had the pleasure Mykola Swarnyk (Continued on page 8) The crowd in Toronto is entertained by the “Voice of Ukraine,” Oksana Mukha. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019 No. 36 ANALYSIS Putin leans on Russian ‘grandeur,’ Pence: U.S. supports Ukraine from Crimea. (Rikard Jozwiak of RFE/RL) U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said the Senators blacklisted in Russia to visit Ukraine leaving Russian citizens vexed United States will continue to support Ukraine in the country’s conflict with Two U.S. lawmakers who Russia says are Idlib province was endangering Turkey’s by Pavel K. Baev Russia and its right to full territorial integ- banned from entering the country say they security interests and provoking a forceful will still join the same congressional dele- Eurasia Daily Monitor rity. Washington “stands with the people of response from his country’s armed forces gation that is going to the country but just Ukraine and most especially since 2014, we The end of summer 2019 found Russian (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, August 29). Mr. visit Ukraine, Serbia and Kosovo. Sen. Chris have stood strongly for the territorial integ- President Vladimir Putin busy with high Putin remained non-committal, looking for Murphy (D-Conn.) tweeted that “Russia rity of Ukraine,” Mr. Pence said after meet- international politics. He is no longer riding safe ground for Russian forces between wouldn’t let us in, but [Senator] Ron ing Ukrainian President Volodymyr with aging bikers in Crimea or making pil- Israeli air strikes on Iranian assets near Johnson (R-Wis.) and I will be visiting Zelenskyy in Warsaw on September 1. “And grimages to the Valaam monastery together Damascus and U.S. missile strikes on an al- Ukraine, Serbia and Kosovo this week to I can assure you that we will continue to with Belarusian President Alyaksandr Qaeda training camp in Idlib (Izvestia, demonstrate bipartisan support for the stand with the people of Ukraine on your Lukashenka. Instead, he traveled to France September 1). new Ukrainian government and continued security, on territorial integrity, including and Finland as well as met with Turkish Moscow’s military intervention in Syria dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.” Ukraine’s rightful claim to Crimea,” the U.S. was supposed to demonstrate the superior Sen. Johnson is co-chairman of the Senate vice-president said. The United States is an paring to greet prominent Asian guests at quality of modern Russian weapons sys- Ukraine Caucus, a group of lawmakers who thePresident Eastern Recep Economic Tayyip Forum Erdoğan, in Vladivostok while pre- tems; but the chain of accidents this sum- important ally for Kyiv, having imposed meet to pursue common legislative objec- later this week (September 4-6). mer, including the massive explosion in an sanctions on Russia for annexing the tives. Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry These high-level engagements are sup- ammunition depot in Achinsk, Krasnoyarsk Crimean peninsula in 2014 and backing spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told jour- posed to reaffirm Russia’s status as a major region, and the fire aboard the AS-31 nucle- pro-Moscow militants in Ukraine’s east. nalists on August 28 that the list was estab- international player, but the disgruntled ar submersible in the Barents Sea, has Vice-President Pence and President lished in response to the United States’ domestic audience is paying scant attention damaged this show of military prowess. Zelenskyy were in Warsaw for commemo- “unfounded restrictions against a signifi- to this new polish on the fading regalia of Moreover, the deadly accident with an rations to mark the 80th anniversary of the cant number of members of the Federation “greatness,” resentful of the Kremlin’s unidentified nuclear-powered missile near start of World War II. (RFE/RL) Council,” Russia’s upper house of insufficient attention to its grievances Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk region, on EU envoys extend Russia sanctions Parliament. Sens. Murphy and Johnson, (Rosbalt, August 27). August 8, has further amplified the impres- who are vocal Kremlin critics, in late Approaching the 20-year mark of his sion of reckless neglect and accumulating EU ambassadors on September 4 agreed August said Russia had denied them visas mastery over Russian politics, Mr. Putin reg- risks in the Russian Armed Forces to prolong the sanctions against 170 to visit the country. In a post on his website ularly behaves as if the problems he chooses (Svoboda.org, August 29). Russian officials and Russian-backed on August 27, Sen. Murphy, who is a mem- to ignore cease to exist; this approach at the Official efforts to cover up the circum- Ukrainian militants as well as 44 entities by ber of the Senate Foreign Relations top, in turn, undermines his subordinates, stances of the failed test produced a wave six months. The extension of the measures, Committee, commenting on Russia’s move who discover that they lack the authority to of concern and outraged revelations about which include visa bans and asset freezes, said it is a “shame that Russia isn’t interest- act (Republic.ru, August 30). the mishandling of the consequences of the to March 2020 will be formally approved ed in dialogue” at “potentially a perilous small but lethal release of radioactivity On August 24-26, U.S. President Donald next week, according to diplomats who moment for our two nations’ fragile rela- (Carnegie.ru, August 28). The high com- Trump off-handedly proposed to admit spoke on condition of anonymity because tionship.” The previous day, Sen.