INSIDE: l Afanasyev, Soloshenko freed in prisoner exchange – page 3 l Interview with new president of Manor College – page 9 l Update on Ukraine at the Euro 2016 – page 15 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXIV No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2016 $2.00 New hurdles surface Visiting Washington, Groysman in Ukraine’s Euro-integration thanks the U.S. for its support by Zenon Zawada These preventive measures consist of the development of a legal mechanism to KYIV – Ukrainians are finding them- restrict migrant flow quickly should the selves stalled on the road to integration sudden need arise, even after the EU visa- with Europe after officials revealed bureau- free regime is in place. cratic hurdles that emerged in recent The regime will allow Ukrainians to trav- weeks. Some are the fault of the Ukrainian el to the Schengen zone of 26 countries, in government, but the biggest factors are all likelihood for a period of no more than related to the large inflow of migrants, three months, without having to go through according to reports. the grueling procedure of applying for a On the national level, the ratification of visa at an embassy. the Ukraine-European Union Association However, visa-free travel would not give Agreement faces more delays, and could Ukrainians the ability to set up residence in still possibly be derailed, Netherlands any of these countries or work there, which Prime Minister Mark Rutte admitted on will require separate permission. June 13, as reported by the nos.nl news site. The idea for the restrictions emerged as He cited his country’s April referendum in visa-free talks began this spring with which Dutch citizens voted against the gov- Turkey, which has been a key source of ernment’s ratification of the agreement. migrants from Syria, the Evropeiska Pravda EU officials have delayed approval of a report said. It has been most strongly advo- visa-free regime for the citizens of Ukraine – cated by France, but is also supported by as well as Turkey, Georgia and Kosovo – Germany, Belgium and Italy. Yaro Bihun until at least the fall, Evropeiska Pravda As a result, the EU Interior Ministers Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman briefs the White House press at the (eurointegration.com.ua news site) reported conclusion of his meeting there with Vice-President Joe Biden. on June 10, citing anonymous EU diplomats. Council decided to avoid any vote on a visa- free regime at its June 10 meeting in “To a large extent, this is an issue of by Yaro Bihun our American partners,” was how he domestic policy. We are trying to show the Luxembourg. described that bilateral cooperation to voters from our countries that we are tak- The other reason for the delay is the WASHINGTON – On his first visit to the members of the press on June 15, at the ing preventive measures from new possible Ukrainian government, which has been United States as Ukraine’s new prime min- conclusion of his meeting at the White migrant crises, including from Ukraine, dragging its feet on necessary EU reforms, ister, Volodymyr Groysman expressed his House with Vice-President Joe Biden. though you aren’t the largest source of dan- the analysis said. This includes the failure gratitude for the American support his “And we appreciate this highly,” he ger,” said one of the anonymous EU diplo- to launch both the National Corruption country is receiving for its political and eco- stressed. “Our American partners support mats cited by Serhiy Sydorenko, author of Prevention Agency and the electronic nomic reform programs and in stopping us in this effort – institutionally, politically the news analysis and the editor of assets declaration system for high-ranking Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine and and financially – so that we can implement Evropeiska Pravda, the leading Ukrainian- officials. Crimea. these reforms as quickly as possible,” he language online source for news from the “In this very import time in Ukraine’s European Union. (Continued on page 12) history we now have the strong backing of (Continued on page 13) Californians commemorate the life of a Ukrainian patriot by Steven Slasten HAYWARD, Calif. — Nearly 150 Ukrainian Americans from all over California gathered on Saturday, May 21, at Garin Regional Park for a panakhyda (memorial service) and celebration of the 100th anniversary of the passing into eter- nal memory of the Rev. Agapius Honcharenko. The Rev. Honcharenko, the first nationally conscious Ukrainian in the United States, lived with his wife, Albina Honcharenko, on 40 acres of the scenic Hayward hills in the late 1800s and early 1900s, quickly becoming a pillar of the Hayward community noted for his deep spirituality and love of the earth. The site of his homestead was designat- ed California State Historic Landmark No. 1025 – Ukraina – on May 15, 1999, with a large ceremony attended by many in the (Continued on page 8) Ukrainian Americans in front of California State Landmark No. 1025 – the Ukraina Monument. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2016 No. 25 ANALYSIS Russia’s Kerch bridge: NATO OKs assistance for Ukraine people since 2014. Leaders from NATO’s 28 member countries will meet on July 8-9 for BRUSSELS – NATO says defense minis- a summit in Warsaw, where they are ters of the alliance have agreed to “boost” time to act for Ukraine expected to approve plans to station mili- support for Ukraine with a “comprehensive tary battalions in the three Baltic states and by Oleksandr Gavrylyuk Crimea two years ago. But now, with inter- package of assistance.” In a statement national sanctions in place, low oil prices Poland. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Eurasia Daily Monitor issued on June 15 following a meeting of and a devalued ruble, Russia has been AFP and Interfax) the NATO-Ukraine Commission in Brussels, The bout of great-power euphoria increasingly forced to take economic fac- the alliance said the package aimed to sparked by the 2014 annexation of Crimea tors into account as well. NATO defense ministers confer “help Ukraine strengthen its defenses by did not last long in Russia. The Kremlin Nonetheless, as Crimean-born Ukrainian building stronger security structures.” BRUSSELS – Meeting in Brussels, NATO quickly realized the region’s total depen- journalist Pavel Kazarin notes, the Kerch NATO is already implementing projects defense ministers have agreed on measures dence on mainland Ukraine. Over the past bridge is more than just a large infrastruc- under the “trust funds” established for to strengthen the alliance’s presence in 60 years, heavy capital and labor invest- ture development project. Rather, it repre- Ukraine to help it reform its military – Eastern Europe, amid tensions with Russia. ments, as well as regular water, power and sents a type of imperial symbol for the including on command and control, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg fuel supplies sent from Ukraine, had trans- Kremlin, just like the 2014 Winter Olympic announced on June 14 that NATO would Games that were held in subtropical Sochi cyberdefense, and rehabilitating wounded formed the formerly desert-covered penin- “deploy by rotation four robust multina- (Krymr.com, April 16, 2016). So, for soldiers. “We are also developing new proj- sula into a lush garden (Istpravda.com.ua, tional battalions” to the three Baltic states March 3, 2014). But the lack of a natural Moscow, building the Kerch bridge is about ects, including in the areas of countering and Poland. Mr. Stoltenberg said the minis- land connection between Crimea and the much more than addressing a transporta- hybrid warfare and explosive devices,” ters also agreed on measures to enhance Russian Federation forced Moscow to find tion or logistics challenge. It is about con- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg defense and deterrence in the Black Sea alternative ways of accessing the annexed firming Russia’s delusional superpower sta- said. During the meeting, Defense Minister region, saying, “There will also be more region. As the peninsula is separated from tus and imaginary might, Mr. Kazarin Stepan Poltorak presented Ukraine’s Russia’s North Caucasus (Krasnodar Krai) argues. Even the fact that the project is defense-reform road map. “Modernizing prepositioned equipment and supplies.” by the relatively narrow (with a minimum being overseen by Mr. Putin’s personal Ukraine’s forces while they are engaged in Earlier he told reporters: “NATO will con- width of around 4.5 kilometers) Kerch friend is, in Mr. Kazarin’s opinion, the best conflict is no easy task, but the government tinue to protect and defend all allies against Strait, Russian authorities decided to link illustration of the Kremlin’s willingness to is making good progress,” Mr. Stoltenberg any threats coming from any direction. the Crimean and Caucasian shores via a build the bridge at any price, no matter the said. (RFE/RL) That is the reason why we implemented country’s accumulating economic problems the biggest reinforcement to our collective bridge (Most.life, accessed May 10). NATO chief demands Russia withdraw The project, estimated at 228 billion and forced cutbacks in budget spending. defense since the end of the Cold War.” He rubles (around $3.5 billion U.S.), was initial- In compliance with the provisions of BRUSSELS – NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg added: “We don’t seek a confrontation with ly proposed to Gennady Timchenko, an oil several bilateral (Ukrainian-Russian) and on June 15 called on Russia to withdraw its Russia, we don’t want a new Cold War. We tycoon and close friend of Russia’s multilateral international treaties, the forces and military equipment from will continue to strive for more construc- President Vladimir Putin (TASS, August 4, building of the bridge linking Crimea with Ukraine and to stop supporting separatists tive and cooperative relationship with 2014).