www.ukrweekly.com INSIDE: l Canada’s new envoy to Ukraine: Roman Waschuk – page 3 l Poroshenko’s addresses in Washington, Ottawa – page 5 l Lobbying for support of Ukraine: a look at the data – page 7 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXII No. 39 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 $2.00 Ukraine advocacy event Poroshenko meets Obama, gets assurances in Washington coincides of security assistance, but no lethal weapons with Poroshenko visit UNIS WASHINGTON – More than two dozen Ukrainian Americans from Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia met on Capitol Hill September 17-18 for the third Ukrainian Days advoca- cy event to be held this year. “Until now, we have held Ukrainian Days annually, a time during which we met with our elected represen- tatives to speak on topics related to Ukraine,” noted event organizer Michael Sawkiw Jr., executive director of the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS), the public affairs office of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA). “But this has been an extraordinarily difficult year for Ukraine and, once again, Ukrainian Americans must send the message that Ukraine’s courage to fight for democracy is not Ukraine’s battle alone and must be supported vigor- ously by the United States.” The program on September 17 began with a briefing session hosted by the American Foreign Policy Council. Yaro Bihun Speakers included three former U.S. ambassadors to During his White House meeting with President Petro Poroshenko, President Barack Obama describes how he sees Ukraine: John Herbst, currently director of the Eurasia the situation in Ukraine and how the United States and the world can help resolve it. Center at the Atlantic Council, Roman Popadiuk, a prin- by Yaro Bihun Congress. There he spoke to the packed assembly, which, in cipal with Bingham Consulting, and Steven Pifer, cur- addition to members of the House and Senate, included rently director of the Arms Control and Non- WASHINGTON – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko Vice-President Joseph Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Proliferation Initiative at the Brookings Institute. came to Washington on September 18 to discuss the cur- other senior U.S. and Ukrainian government officials, as Echoing the message that Russia’s actions threaten rent dangerous situation threatening Ukraine with U.S. well as his wife, Dr. Maryna Poroshenko. not just Ukraine, but world stability – and speaking in President Barack Obama and at a joint session of the U.S. President Poroshenko underscored the importance of free- anticipation of the visit by Ukraine’s President Petro Congress. And that evening he left the U.S. capital on his dom, which “defines who you are – as a person and as a nation.” Poroshenko to Washington on September 18 – all three way back to Kyiv with assurances of Washington’s contin- And his countrymen made that choice for freedom 10 months ambassadors noted that Mr. Poroshenko needed to use ued support and a $46 million increase in U.S. security ago on the Maidan, he said, and continue to do so today. his address to Congress and meeting with President assistance to Ukraine – although none of it in the form of In the meantime, he added, “an external aggressor,” Barack Obama to ask forcefully for U.S. military assis- lethal weapons and ammunition that he asked for. Russia, decided to take away a part of Ukraine – Crimea – tance to Ukraine. All noted the seeming disconnect President Poroshenko’s day began on Capitol Hill, where between the support in Congress for Ukraine and the he was invited to address a joint session of the U.S. (Continued on page 11) more tepid response by the Obama administration. The fear in official Washington, particularly on the part of the Obama administration, of using the words “invasion” or “war” with regard to the Ukraine-Russia conflict and instead insisting on identifying Russia’s Poroshenko receives rapturous welcome in Canada’s capital actions as an “incursion” does not bode well, noted Ambassador Herbst, stating somewhat pessimistically, by Christopher Guly “I see dark days ahead.” Special to The Ukrainian Weekly Briefing papers were distributed to the Ukrainian Days participants that included three main topics of OTTAWA – Following the Verkhovna Rada’s ratification advocacy: military assistance to Ukraine, more severe of a historic cooperation agreement between Ukraine and sanctions against Russia and support for the UCCA the European Union and on the eve of his address to a joint observer mission for the October 26 elections to session of the U.S. Congress, Petro Poroshenko received a Ukraine’s Parliament. rock-star-like welcome – along with military honors and a Participants were also briefed on pending legislation, 21-gun salute – on September 17 when he became the sec- including the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 ond Ukrainian president, after Viktor Yushchenko in 2008, introduced on September 17 by Senate Foreign to address a rare joint session of Canada’s Parliament. Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez As legislators did in Washington, Canadian senators and (D-N.J.) and Ranking Member Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), leg- members of Parliament greeted President Poroshenko islation that imposes broad sanctions on Russia’s with a roaring standing ovation and interrupted his defense, energy and financial sectors, as well as increas- 21-minute speech – delivered mainly in English, with some es military and non-military assistance for Ukraine. French and Ukrainian content – several times with sus- Congressional Ukrainian Caucus (CUC) member tained applause. (To read the speech, see page 5.) Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) on September 17 led the effort But the Ottawa address seemed far more moving for the in the House of Representatives to pass HR 726, which president, who commented at the outset that he had expresses support for Ukraine as it works to strengthen “never felt anything like this” and joked that Ukrainian was Stephen Harper/Facebook Canada’s “third official language,” before emphasizing the President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine with Prime (Continued on page 10) Minister Stephen Harper of Canada during their (Continued on page 4) September 17 meeting in Ottawa. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 No. 39 ANALYSIS Ukrainian leaders walk away from law Obama mentions Ukraine at U.N. unanimously passed the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 by a vote of 18 to 0. UNITED NATIONS – Addressing the just Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and on self-administration in occupied territories opened 69th general debate of the United Ranking Member Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) Nations General Assembly on September introduced the bill on September 17. The retain that power; and presidential advisor 24, President Barack Obama mentioned by Vladimir Socor bill would impose broad sanctions on Mykola Tomenko supports this. Pending recent developments in Ukraine, noting Eurasia Daily Monitor Russia’s defense, energy and financial sec- elucidation of possible irregularities, Mr. that “Russia’s actions in Ukraine” challenge tors, as well as increase military and non- Utter confusion surrounds Ukraine’s just- Turchynov would not forward the law for the “post-war order.” He continued: “After military assistance for Ukraine. “We stand adopted law on the “special procedure of President Poroshenko’s signature the people of Ukraine mobilized popular as one today in Congress, united in our sup- local self-administration in individual dis- (Ukrinform, September 18, 21). protests and calls for reform, their corrupt tricts in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.” president fled. Against the will of the gov- port for President [Petro] Poroshenko and Pursuant to the September 5 ceasefire proto- Hryniv initially suggested that this law and ernment in Kyiv, Crimea was annexed. the Ukrainian people in their pursuit of col, President Petro Poroshenko initiated this the• amnestyRussian troops: law are Presidential pre-conditions advisor to Ihor the Russia poured arms into eastern Ukraine, peace and democracy in the face of Russian law, his administration drafted it, and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine’s fueling violent separatists and a conflict aggression,” Sen. Menendez said. “There is Parliament adopted it on September 16 (see territory. Mr. Hryniv and other Ukrainian offi- that has killed thousands. When a civilian no more powerful demonstration of our Eurasia Daily Monitor, September 19). cials seemed to hint that Russia had infor- airliner was shot down from areas that solidarity with Ukraine than to approve However, the law has not yet taken effect, mally agreed to this particular sequence these proxies controlled, they refused to this legislation that imposes tough sanc- and it seems increasingly doubtful that it when signing the ceasefire on September 5 allow access to the crash for days. When tions against Russia for upending the inter- ever will, even if only on paper. The govern- (Ukrinform, September 16). Such Russian Ukraine started to reassert control over its national order, while providing military ment led by Arseniy Yatsenyuk opposes key consent looks implausible, however. territory, Russia gave up the pretense of assistance to Ukraine during this water- parts of this law publicly and disclaims any Meanwhile, Mr. Poroshenko’s political advi- merely supporting the separatists, and shed moment. Russia’s invasion requires a role in having drafted it. Top officials includ- sor Mr. Tomenko asserts that this law “can moved troops across the border.” Mr. firm and resolute response, and passing ing the president, several of his senior advi- only begin to operate when the last Russian Obama said, “This is a vision of the world in the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 sors and the Parliament’s chair, are back- soldier departs from these districts, and the which might makes right – a world in demonstrates that unwavering and neces- tracking on the adopted law, disavowing or ‘DPR’ and’ LPR’ lay down their arms” sary resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder (UNIAN, September 18, 21).