INSIDE: Experts analyze efforts of Ukraine’s new prosecutor – page 3 Congressional delegation meets with Poroshenko – page 4 Special section: Ukrainian Debutante Balls – pages 9-11 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXIII No. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2015 $2.00 Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ukraine’s minister of fi nance visits hears testimony on Ukraine policy D.C. to seek assistance for Ukraine Appearing on the first panel were Victoria Nuland, assistant secretary of state Frustration mounts for European and Eurasian affairs; Vice as Obama declines Admiral Frank Pandolfe, director for strate- gic plans and policy for the Joint Staff to provide lethal aid Pentagon; Brian P. McKeon, principal depu- ty undersecretary of defense for policy; and Ukrainian National Information Service Ramin Toloui, assistant secretary of trea- sury for international finance. WASHINGTON – The chairman of the Despite arguing that Ukraine figures Senate Foreign Relations Committee prominently in U.S. strategy in Europe and (SFRC), Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), called recounting the ways in which the U.S. is into session two panels to hear testimony offering economic support to Ukraine, the on President Barack Obama’s policy toward panelists did not say the U.S. is prepared to Ukraine to repel Russian aggression and offer Ukraine military assistance. It was push reform. Word of the president’s state- clear that the administration’s objective is ment in diplomatic channels in February to affect Russian behavior by diplomatic that his administration will not offer mili- means, which includes imposing sanctions tary assistance to Ukraine was the back- that will hurt Russia economically. drop to the March 10 hearing. Initially referring to the crisis in Ukraine In his opening remarks, Chairman as a “conflict” in her opening statement, Corker emphasized “the provision of lethal Yaro Bihun during questioning Assistant Secretary Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko discusses Ukraine’s critical financial and economic assistance aims to increase Ukraine’s Nuland quietly admitted that she is “com- challenges at the Brookings Institution in Washington. defense capabilities in a way that will give fortable with the word” “invasion” to Kyiv the ability to produce conditions on describe Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. by Yaro Bihun talked about them in a packed conference the ground favorable to a genuine peace The administration is waiting for the Minsk room at the Brookings Institution, a leading process. By equipping Ukraine with the accords to be implemented before proceed- WASHINGTON – Ukraine’s new minister of Washington think tank. means to impose a greater military cost on ing to the next steps. According to Ms. finance, Natalie Jaresko, came to Washington Ms. Jaresko stressed that Ukraine wants Russia, the United States will be contribut- Nuland, the U.S. might “roll back sanctions on March 16-17, seeking U.S. assistance in a peaceful solution to its conflict in the ing to a quicker, fairer and more stable set- [against Russia] when the ceasefire [Minsk helping to get her country’s economy work- Donetsk-Luhansk region with Russian- tlement of the conflict.” The administra- 2] is fully implemented.” ing normally during these very difficult and backed separatists, which has killed more tion’s inaction on providing military aid to Mr. McKeon’s testimony to the commit- uncertain times for Ukraine. than 6,000 and wounded more than 15,000 Ukraine, which was likened to U.S. promis- tee emphasized the assistance that the U.S. She discussed her government’s needs soldiers and civilians, and displaced more es of military aid made to Syria in 2013, government has supplied Ukraine in the and plans for recovery with senior officials than 1 million residents. underscored the frustration evident in the of the White House, the Treasury and State hearing room. (Continued on page 5) departments and congressmen, and later (Continued on page 17) McCain and Murphy address overfl ow crowd in Hartford by Alexander Kuzma and Lana Babij HARTFORD, Conn. – An overflow crowd of 400 concerned citizens packed the audi- torium at the Ukrainian National Home in Hartford on Monday, March 9, to hear U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) share their concerns about the current crisis in Ukraine. The unusual early morning visit drew people from across Connecticut and beyond, including friends from the Baltic and Polish communities and non-affiliated supporters. The event drew a swarm of area reporters, photographers and cameramen. Both senators insisted on more econom- ic and military aid to help Ukraine rebuild its economy and withstand Russia’s inva- sion of Ukraine. “Putin is attempting not just to break Ukraine,” said Sen. Murphy. “He is trying to Christine Melnyk Over 400 community members pack the hall at the Ukrainian National Home in Hartford, Conn., to hear U.S. Sens. Chris (Continued on page 5) Murphy (D-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) address the current crisis in Ukraine. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2015 No. 12 ANALYSIS Putin celebrates first anniversary Rada OKs bill on east’s special status March 14. Officials at the facility where Ms. Savchenko is being kept said they would KYIV – Ukrainian lawmakers have not allow an earlier visit on March 13, approved a draft law to grant special status of seizing Crimea from Ukraine because the doctors did not have the neces- to the rebel-held areas in the country’s east. under the guise of “reinforcing” the Russian sary paperwork from the Russian Foreign by Roger McDermott The Verkhovna Rada approved the bill on Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol. Affairs Ministry. She recently ended a near- Eurasia Daily Monitor March 17. It was part of a package of legisla- In this sense, he takes sole credit for the ly three-month hunger strike to protest tive proposals made by President Petro During a mysterious period of absence entire operation, planned and coordinated what she calls her illegal confinement by Poroshenko and that have been sharply crit- from public view, controversy erupted though the Kremlin; if there ever was a Russia. The Ukrainian doctors recommend- icized by both Russia and the pro-Russian ed to Ms. Savchenko that she should not around Russian President Vladimir Putin Russian “hybrid” approach to modern war- separatists. The text of the bill outlines the sharing his reflections on the annexation of fare, it seems to have emerged in Mr. Putin’s resume her hunger strike. (RFE/RL, with boundaries of particular districts in the reporting by Interfax and TASS) Crimea in 2014, after a trailer for the docu- mind. Mr. Putin also said that Russian spe- areas under pro-Russian separatist control mentary was screened on March 11. By cial services “knew well” the situation in that could be granted special status with Savchenko resumes hunger strike March 15, following the Russian president’s the Ukrainian military due to monitoring limited self-rule. That was a key part of the MOSCOW – Ukrainian military pilot 10-day disappearance from public view, the their communications. ceasefire deal reached in Minsk on February Nadia Savchenko says she has resumed her pre-recorded documentary, “Crimea: the But on the possibility of conflict escala- 12. The bill says rebel-held areas in Donetsk Way Home,” was aired on Rossiya 1. Mr. tion, Mr. Putin said he would have placed hunger strike in a Russian jail and is pre- and Luhansk regions will be granted their pared to die if she is not released. She Putin shed light on the political-military the nuclear forces on alert if things had special status after holding elections in decision to seize Crimea, its timing and the gone badly. The operation, in fact, resulted announced the decision in a letter from accordance with Ukrainian law and under pretrial detention at Moscow’s evaluation of its risks, including his readi- in a relatively smooth seizing of territory international observation. (RFE/RL, with Matrosskaya Tishina jail. “As of March 16, I ness to place Russian nuclear forces on and no outside power tried to intervene; reporting by Interfax, TASS and Reuters) am resuming the hunger strike until I am alert under certain scenarios (Rossiya 1, Mr. Putin’s later reference to the nuclear Russia, separatists criticize bill returned to Ukraine or until the last day of March 15). card seems calculated to be a warning to my life in Russia,” she wrote in the letter In the trailer, Mr. Putin admitted order- the West to tread carefully with Russia in MOSCOW – Russia and pro-Russian sep- posted on Twitter by one of her lawyers, ing the operation to take Crimea following the future and respect its interests (Rossiya aratists in eastern Ukraine have criticized a Mark Feigin. “I have no intention of chang- an all-night emergency meeting held in the 1, March 15). Ukrainian draft law granting the rebel-held ing my decision,” she wrote in a separate Kremlin, on February 22 to consider the Mr. Putin reinforced this message time areas special status. Denis Pushilin, a sepa- letter addressed to her lawyers. Ms. issue of Ukraine’s then-president, Viktor and again during the documentary, saying ratist leader in the Donetsk region, Savchenko, 33, lost about 20 kilograms Yanukovych, fleeing Kyiv. he ordered the placement of K-300P described the bill as “a crude violation” of after being drip-fed on glucose and vita- Ukraine’s current prime minister, Bastian-P coastal defense batteries to be the ceasefire deal reached in Minsk last mins alone during a hunger strike she Arseniy Yatsenyuk, stated in response: “I seen from space, in order to send a mes- month.