Part 3 of THE YEAR IN REVIEW pages 5-16 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXV No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017 $2.00 Petro Matiaszek: promoting Ukraine U.S. Senate confi rms Haley, advocate via “honest dialogue” with investors of Ukraine sovereignty, as U.N. envoy nee for secretary of state, was narrowly by Mark Raczkiewycz RFE/RL approved by the Senate Foreign Relations KYIV – Petro Matiaszek prefers “govern- WASHINGTON – The Senate confirmed Committee on January 23. The vote was ment relations and communications” to the President Donald Trump’s pick to be U.S. 11-10, with all Republicans voting for him streetwise adage of “fixer” to describe his ambassador to the United Nations by a and all Democrats voting against. 23-year illustrious role in Ukraine. For decisive 96-to-4 vote on January 24. Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) praised Mr. nearly two decades, the New York Law Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina won Tillerson for being well-qualified for the School graduate has smoothly navigated support from most Democratic senators post, but Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the rank- because she testified that she does not sup- among the three sectors of society – public, ing opposition member on the committee, port Republican efforts to slash U.S. fund- private and civil society – with such fluidity said he would oppose the nominee because ing for the U.N. that he could easily build a checklist of “Tillerson’s demonstrated business orien- Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said Gov. Haley accomplishments: tation and his responses to questions dur- also said that “Crimea is not Russian” Bring Kentucky Fried Chicken to Ukraine ing the confirmation hearing could com- despite Moscow’s annexation of the penin- – done. promise his ability as secretary of state to sula in 2014, and she spoke “very strongly” Translate for ex-President Viktor promote the values and ideals that have about defending Ukrainian sovereignty. Yushchenko – done. defined our country.” Senate Foreign Relations Committee Before the committee vote, Sens. John Send parliamentary delegations to Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said Gov. Europe – done. McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, (R-S.C.) said they would support Mr. Help raise some $25 million to help will be a “fierce advocate” for U.S. interests Ukraine’s war refugees – done. Tillerson despite his close ties to Russia Petro Matiaszek at the U.N. and President Vladimir Putin. They said in Ultimately, it was the late renowned * * * a joint statement that although they “still economist Bohdan Hawrylyshyn who proper bill research and writing, among The Washington Post reported that dur- have concerns” about Mr. Tillerson’s previ- brought the Paterson, N.J., native to Kyiv. Dr. other duties that eventually extended to ing her confirmation hearing on January 18 ous dealings with Russia and Mr. Putin, Hawrylyshyn made a fateful offer over the three years. He also built ties with foreign Gov. Haley said she agrees that Russia invad- they “believe that Mr. Tillerson can be an phone in July 1994 for the recent graduate Parliaments by sending Verkhovna Rada ed and seized Ukrainian territory in 2014 effective advocate for U.S. interests.” They in Manhattan to an initial one-year consul- delegations abroad through a Soros-funded and that U.S. and international sanctions said the nominee convinced them he was tancy stint at the newly created Council of project. were an appropriate response. She said she deserving of their support following some Advisors within Ukraine’s Parliament that Marrying his Ukrainian American heri- would consider additional sanctions, which private meetings “and much discussion.” was being funded by philanthropist George tage – his father was a World War II refugee Mr. Trump has said he may oppose. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said that, Soros. from western Ukraine and his mother a The New York Times quoted Gov. Haley despite some concerns about the nomi- The mid-1990s “was about building a Dutch Anglo-Saxon who traced her roots to as saying: “Russia is trying to show their nee’s close ties to Russia, he would vote for country… In some ways that’s still going on. colonists who settled in the New World in muscle right now. It’s what they do.” She his approval. In a Facebook statement on That was for me the most fascinating thing 1640 – to nation-building in Ukraine, he added: “I don’t think we can trust them. We January 23, Sen. Rubio said he was trou- that I couldn’t get in America,” Mr. said, amounted to “being part of a move- have to continue to be very strong back, bled that Mr. Tillerson refused to agree Matiaszek, 51, said of his decision. ment.” and show them what this new administra- with him that Mr. Putin had committed war Ukraine was being reborn. Nation- “This was a way to continue doing that, tion is going to be.” crimes through Russian military attacks on building was in full swing. but now living in the country and working civilians in Syria. And Mr. Matiaszek was involved in trans- in the government,” he said in a downtown Senate committee approves Tillerson nomination “Despite [Tillerson’s] extensive experi- forming the nation’s Soviet-era rubber- Kyiv café not far from his apartment that ence in Russia and his personal relation- stamping legislative body into a bona fide Former ExxonMobil chief executive Rex ship with many of its leaders, he claimed he institution, where he landed to assist in (Continued on page 19) Tillerson, President Donald Trump’s nomi- did not have sufficient information to determine whether Putin and his cronies were responsible for ordering the murder of countless dissidents, journalists and U.S. ambassador to U.N. says Russia ‘tearing down’ world order political opponents,” Sen. Rubio added. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), in a state- RFE/RL ment issued on January 23, noted: “Based WASHINGTON – The outgoing U.S. ambassador to the United on my dialogue with Mr. Tillerson, I expect Nations has accused Russia of engaging in aggressive and desta- the Trump administration to maintain America’s longstanding commitment to our bilizing actions that she says are threatening the rules-based alliances around the world, particularly international order. NATO, and to lead these allies in standing Samantha Power made the remarks on January 17 at the up to threats against shared interests and Washington-based Atlantic Council in her last major speech as ideals such as Russia’s illegal annexation of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Crimea and aggression in eastern Ukraine She cited the illegal seizure by Russia of Ukraine’s Crimean and Syria.” He added that he was reassured peninsula and the Kremlin’s intervention in the conflict in east- by the nominee’s pledge “not to lift sanc- ern Ukraine, support of the Syrian government in that country’s tions on Russia or accept a change in the war, and efforts to influence elections in Western democracies U.S. position on Crimea without the agree- through computer hacking and misinformation campaigns ment of the Ukrainian people.” designed to influence public opinion. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) on January Ambassador Power said: “Russia’s actions are not standing up 23 cited his reasons for voting against Mr. Ambassador Samantha Power/Facebook a new world order. They are tearing down the one that exists.” Ambassador Samantha Power addresses the Atlantic Tillerson’s nomination, and noted: “…at a Council on January 17. Based on reporting by Russia and AP (Continued on page 20) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017 No. 5 Kyiv urges Trump to keep sanctions on Russia Poroshenko says no to early elections evidence “would be difficult to provide, Only Lithuania has provided Ukraine particularly in a conflict situation.” by Christopher Miller KYIV – Ukrainian President Petro International investigators have found that RFE/RL with small arms and ammunition, Mr. Poroshenko has said that “some politicians Poltorak said. the Malaysia Airlines jet that crashed in in Kyiv and Moscow” are pushing to force eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 KYIV – Ukrainian Defense Minister While it remains to be seen whether Mr. Ukraine to hold early parliamentary elec- Stepan Poltorak has urged U.S. President Trump will continue supporting Ukraine, people aboard, was shot down by a missile tions in order “to destabilize our country.” fired by a Buk launcher that had been Donald Trump to continue providing his other allies have promised their continued Speaking on the occasion of Unity Day on brought in from Russia and returned back crisis-stricken country with political and support. January 22, Mr. Poroshenko said he would across the border later, despite repeated military assistance, urging Trump to con- Britain’s Defense Secretary Michael use all legal means to counter such efforts. denials of involvement in the war in the tinue sanctions against Russia to deter “fur- Fallon said in Kyiv on January 20 that The president also said there would be no Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Almaz-Antey ther escalation” of the war in eastern Britain “stands firm” with Ukraine and changes to the Constitution until “security has disputed findings of the international Ukraine by the Kremlin. would continue training its military. issues” are settled in the eastern Donbas investigators, claiming it conducted tests In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL More than 9,750 people have been killed region. “In a difficult dialogue, we persuad- that showed the missile was fired by an on January 21, a day after Mr.