THEH Published U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXVII No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2019 $2.00 Zelensky faces fi rst challenges ahead of presidential inauguration by Mark Raczkiewycz had “acknowledged its responsibility as an occupier state,” and that it doesn’t “bring us KYIV – President-elect Volodymyr closer to achieving the ultimate goal: a Zelensky is already facing his first challenge ceasefire.” just three days after he trounced incum- President Poroshenko, in a video bent Petro Poroshenko in an April 21 elec- address, said that “the Russian Federation tion for the nation’s highest post. has crossed another red line, openly and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin signed a disrespectfully torpedoing the peace pro- decree on April 24 that simplifies the proce- cess in the Donbas.” dure for giving Russian passports to some Moscow brushed off the criticism, and 3.8 million residents of the occupied parts Mr. Putin stated that the move is “purely a of the Donbas. Moscow has since 2017 rec- humanitarian matter.” ognized passports issued by its puppet Just days before the run-off election with authorities in the territories that it controls the incumbent, Mr. Zelensky revealed his in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. team of experts – none of whom were pre- The measure signals Moscow’s further sented as responsible for issues of re-inte- stranglehold on the region and reduces the grating or freeing the Russian-occupied maneuvering room that Mr. Zelensky will Crimean peninsula or non-government be able to use to negotiate a lasting cease- controlled Donbas. fire despite his strong mandate of three- On election night he reiterated his inten- quarters of the vote. The political newcom- tion to maintain the Normandy format of er’s platform, like his predecessor’s in peace talks that includes Germany, France 2014, included achieving peace in the and Russia. He also said that Kyiv would Russian-stoked war that has killed more stick to the existing Minsk peace process that France and Germany brokered and than 13,000 people and internally dis- Volodymyr Zelensky presidential campaign placed more than 1 million civilians. which contains a series of steps for ending President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky takes a selfie after learning the preliminary the interstate war. In an e-mailed statement, Mr. Zelensky’s results of the presidential election poll at the Parkovy Congress and Exhibition team said that, through the decree, Russia Center in Kyiv on April 21. (Continued on page 16) Ukrainian PM Groysman to run in Rada elections Incoming Ukrainian president a wildcard, with ‘new political forces’ says former Canadian foreign aff airs minister RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service Chief of Canada’s election observers says election was “free and fair” KYIV – Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said he will take part in the October parlia- mentary elections with a party other than that of incum- by Christopher Guly Nobel Peace Prize nominee for his work while he was for- eign affairs minister to ban land mines. bent President Petro Poroshenko, who was defeated by Special to The Ukrainian Weekly He also credited Ukraine with developing an “early-warn- comic and political newcomer Volodymyr Zelensky in OTTAWA – Despite Russian attempts to interfere with ing prevention” system to address any potential disruptions the presidential election’s runoff on April 21. Ukraine’s presidential election, the two rounds of voting to the election campaign – including Russian attempts to In a broadcast on the ICTV channel on April 22, Mr. were held under a “free and fair” democratic process and disseminate disinformation through social media in the Groysman said he would contest the parliamentary resulted in Ukrainians choosing as their head of state polit- lead-up to the first round of voting on March 31. elections with “new political forces.” ical neophyte Volodymyr Zelensky, “a riddle wrapped up in That interference was “phased down” by the time of the “Clearly, it will be a political force that unites people an enigma,” according to the head of Canada’s election final vote on April 21, “because there was no real need to with good reputation, people who don’t just talk but observation mission to Ukraine. prop up one candidate or the other [since] the election was are capable of doing real things,” Mr. Groysman said, In a phone interview from Winnipeg with The Ukrainian going the way [the Russians] wanted,” Mr. Axworthy told adding that he wants “to be active, fight for ideas, and Weekly, Lloyd Axworthy said, “I came away very impressed journalists during an April 24 teleconference. “But there implement them.” with the way Ukrainian voters had a real dedication to were continuing outbursts of websites with hate and mobi- Mr. Groysman became a lawmaker in 2014 as a make their vote count. For them, it was about making lization and protest.” member of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc party. In change happen.” Mr. Axworthy previously visited Ukraine The former Canadian minister declined to say whether November of that year, he became the chairman of the during his time as Canada’s foreign affairs minister from he thought the Kremlin favored Mr. Zelensky over the Verkhovna Rada and since April 2016 has been prime 1996 to 2000, and afterwards as president of the incumbent Petro Poroshenko. However, Mr. Axworthy has minister. University of Winnipeg. concerns about the 41-year-old actor who has played a Mr. Groysman is expected to stay in power until the The 160 Canadians who participated in the recent president on a popular Ukrainian TV show and who will October election. If President-elect Zelensky wins observer mission visited 2,366 polling stations, which in Mr. soon occupy that position in real life. enough seats in Parliament, he is expected to form a Axworthy’s opinion ran as efficiently as those in Winnipeg, “Statements were made by his press spokesperson [dur- new government. when he successfully ran for office at the Manitoba provin- ing the campaign] that they don’t have to rely upon conven- cial and Canadian national levels as a Liberal. Meanwhile, outgoing President Poroshenko vowed tional news media outlets and [could] do politics in a differ- During the first and second rounds of voting in to remain in politics and said publicly that his succes- ent way. There was no access given to the candidate during Ukraine’s presidential election, “polls opened on time; bal- sor has “strong opposition” in the Verkhovna Rada. that period of time,” Mr. Axworthy said in the teleconference. lots were counted properly; law-enforcement officers were In less than four months after announcing his candidacy, (Continued on page 18) available for security; and grievances and problems were quickly responded to,” said the 79-year-old Mr. Axworthy, a (Continued on page 13) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2019 No. 17 ANALYSIS Ukraine expands its missile capabilities Thousands come to thank Poroshenko nization, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), which included 88 STOs. stone this month is the mobile anti-ship In an unprecedented event, several thou- Together the two missions had 337 short- by Anton Mikhnenko sand people came to Bankova Street, the Eurasia Daily Monitor cruise missile (ASCM) system Neptun. The term observers. In addition, 122 long-term 300-kilometer-range Neptun cruise missile location of the Presidential Administration observers monitored media for any evidence Ukraine’s military and political authori- is being developed by the state-owned of Ukraine, on April 22 to see President of disinformation with respect to the elec- ties continue to seek an adequate deterrent Luch design bureau, in domestic collabora- Petro Poroshenko, whose presidential term tion in 28 countries. The UWC Mission is to contain and deter Russian aggression, tion with other government-run and pri- is about to end, in order to express gratitude headed by the UWC’s immediate past presi- particularly in light of the breakdown of the vate-sector defense firms. The first public for everything he did for Ukraine. Mr. dent, Eugene Czolij, with UWC Vice- 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces flight test for the missile took place on Poroshenko thanked those in the crowd for President Andriy Futey as deputy head of (INF) Treaty. In response to Washington’s August 17, 2018. their support and reminded them that he mission and former UWC Vice-President and Moscow’s stated intention, earlier this April 5 saw a public demonstration of the would stay in politics. He emphasized that Peter Sztyk as chief observer. “I thank the year, to withdraw from the INF (see Eurasia first operational prototype of the Neptun his goals were to win the parliamentary leadership and all observers of the UWC and Daily Monitor, February 4; Kremlin.ru, ASCM as well as reportedly successful initial elections and “return to Bankova” after the UCCA Missions who, with their professional March 4), the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign test launches (112, April 5). The Ukrainian next presidential election. (Serhii and efficient work, contributed to securing Affairs declared that Kyiv “reserves the right commander-in-chief, President Poroshenko, Nuznenko/RFE/RL) free, fair and transparent presidential elec- to develop weapons systems deemed neces- notably was present to observe the launch Portman on Ukraine’s election results tions in Ukraine during the first and second sary to defend itself, including, inter alia, trials (President.gov.ua April 5). Following rounds, generously dedicating their time and missiles and associated launcher systems” the test, the secretary of the Ukrainian U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) on April financial resources,” stated UWC President (Mfa.gov.uaMarch 7). And in a speech deliv- National Security and Defense Council, 22 issued a statement congratulating Paul Grod.