http://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-ed/poroshenko-uses-his-time-wisely-in-front-of-us-congress-365141.htmlGood for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
He did not waste his 45-minute televised address in front of both houses of the U.S. Congress on simple niceties, as I had feared.
Porosheko asked for everything Ukraine needs: the honoring of the US commitment in the 1994 Budapet Memorandum to guarantee Ukraine's sovereignty and territory, lethal and non-lethal military aid, a special security status for a non-NATO ally, economic assistance, an investment fund, help reforming Ukraine's economy and justice system and continued tough sanctions against Russia.
Perhaps most importantly of all, Poroshenko cast Ukraine's struggle as the free world's struggle -- as one of right vs. wrong, freedom vs. oppression, good vs. evil. And he's right, in comparing Ukraine's desire for democracy and European integretation with Russian President Vladimir Putin's desire to block both for Ukraine, while keeping his Kremlin dictatorship alive and to revive the ex-Soviet Union.
"It is Europe and America's war, too," Poroshenko said. "It is the war for the free world." And: "I urge you not to let Ukraine stand alone in the face of this threat." And: Russia's "aggression against Ukraine is a threat to global security everywhere." He called it a choice between "civilization and barbarism" and repeated the same theme throughout the speech: "Aggression against one democratic nation is aggression against all of us."
Poroshenko found a nice way to make lots of demands -- and in English! -- in a well-received speech, judging by the numerous bursts of applause and standing ovations that America's 535 lawmakers gave to him. America's Congress doesn't unite on much these days, but on Ukraine's struggle, it appears to be doing so.
Ukraine's leader was later to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama, who is under increasing pressure to provide Ukraine with lethal military assistance to stop Russia's war. So far, Obama's argument that Russia will just up the military ante has held. But increasingly, even members of his own Democratic Party are coming to the conclusion that Ukraine should be given the training and tools to defend its nation militarily, if it so chooses.
Poroshenko addressed the 1994 Budapest Memorandum under which Ukraine surrendered its Soviet-era nuclear weapons arsenal in exchange for security and territorial guarantees from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and China.
Poroshenko: "Ukrainian, which gave up the world's third largest nuclear potential in exchange for security, was stabbed in the back by one of the countries (Russia) that gave her assurance...What we got from Russia was annexation and war that has brought Ukraine to the brink of survival."
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko addresses the U.S. Congress on Sept. 18.
He urged American lawmakers "not to let Ukraine stand alone in the face of this threat" from Russia and to live up to its Budapest Memorandum commitment.
"The US made a commitment to stand behind Ukraine’s territorial integrity and we hope it will live up to that promise," he said.
On lethal military aid, Poroshenko memorably said that "one cannot win the war with blankets." Instead, Poroshenko said that Ukraine needs more military equipment, both lethal and non-lethal aid "urgently."
"Blankets and night vision goggles are also important," he said. "But one cannot win the war with blankets. We cannot keep the peace with blankets." He said Ukraine's goal is "not to win the war, but to keep the peace."
He told the Congress, mindful of his reason for getting the audience -- 45 million Ukrainians -- that his nation's sacrifices should not be in vain.
"In a time of Euroskepticism and Russia's open, unprovoked hositility, Ukrainian citizens have been willing to give their lives to see Ukrainain democratic and free," he said. "With this in mind, I strongly encourage the United States to give Ukraine a special security and defense status, which gives the highest level of interaction with non-NATO allies."
Poroshenkos asked Congress "to create a special fund to support American investment in Ukraine" and "help reform our economy and justice system." Then, in an effort to reassure American lawmakers wary of Ukrainian corruption, he said: "All aid received form the West will be utilized by non-corrupt institutions and the funds will be distributed effectively."
He also said that he will not compromise on Russia's annexation of Crimea and urged the world not to do so either and to "stand united in sending the signal to the aggressors that the policy of annexation will never be tolerated."
"In Ukraine, you don’t build democracy, it alwready exists, you just defend it," he said, drawing parallels with the American Revolution's "Live Free or Die!" motto, which echoed the EuroMaidan Revolution sentiment and today's crisis, Poroshenko said.
One thing is clear: Poroshenko writes and gives good speeches. But so far, the commitments coming from the West are not enough to help Ukraine prevail.
Ukraine, America and the rest of the free world will have to take stronger stance against Russia if the Ukrainian president's hope for national victory and lasting peace will be achieved.
