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Obama holds talks with Ukraine's Poroshenko in Warsaw | |
(35 minutes later) | |
US President Barack Obama is meeting Ukraine's President-elect Petro Poroshenko in Warsaw, to discuss providing economic support. | |
Mr Obama has said he will offer US support as Kiev tries to settle a gas bill with Russian supplier Gazprom, which has threatened to cut supply. | Mr Obama has said he will offer US support as Kiev tries to settle a gas bill with Russian supplier Gazprom, which has threatened to cut supply. |
Ukraine's struggling economy has been in recession since 2012. | Ukraine's struggling economy has been in recession since 2012. |
Mr Obama is in Poland for celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the end of communism there. | Mr Obama is in Poland for celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the end of communism there. |
But his visit has taken on extra significance following Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in March. The move has left East-West relations at their lowest ebb since the Cold War. | But his visit has taken on extra significance following Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in March. The move has left East-West relations at their lowest ebb since the Cold War. |
Mr Obama is seeking to reassure East European allies that Washington will support them in the event of any Russian "provocation". | Mr Obama is seeking to reassure East European allies that Washington will support them in the event of any Russian "provocation". |
On Tuesday he pledged $1bn (£600m) to boost military deployments to Europe in response to Russian actions in Ukraine. | On Tuesday he pledged $1bn (£600m) to boost military deployments to Europe in response to Russian actions in Ukraine. |
Nato has also promised to bolster its defence capabilities. | Nato has also promised to bolster its defence capabilities. |
The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says Mr Obama chose to come to Poland for its symbolic value. | The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says Mr Obama chose to come to Poland for its symbolic value. |
In a speech in Warsaw on Wednesday, he is expected to say that 25 years ago it faced similar problems to those facing Kiev today, but overcame them. | In a speech in Warsaw on Wednesday, he is expected to say that 25 years ago it faced similar problems to those facing Kiev today, but overcame them. |
The message is that with the West's support, Ukraine can too, our correspondent says. | The message is that with the West's support, Ukraine can too, our correspondent says. |
On Tuesday, Mr Obama said he would offer Mr Poroshenko US support for the Ukrainian economy to help ensure it can get through next winter if Russian gas supplies were cut in a row over payment. | |
"I want to hear from him (Poroshenko) what he thinks would be most helpful," Mr Obama said. | "I want to hear from him (Poroshenko) what he thinks would be most helpful," Mr Obama said. |
"We're going to spend a lot of time on the economics of Ukraine." | "We're going to spend a lot of time on the economics of Ukraine." |
He said Moscow could rebuild the trust it once enjoyed, but said that "further Russian provocation" would be met with further costs for Russia, including possible further sanctions. | He said Moscow could rebuild the trust it once enjoyed, but said that "further Russian provocation" would be met with further costs for Russia, including possible further sanctions. |
Moscow has been accused of supporting armed separatists in eastern Ukraine, something it strongly denies. | Moscow has been accused of supporting armed separatists in eastern Ukraine, something it strongly denies. |
"Russia has a responsibility to engage constructively with the Ukrainian government in Kiev, to prevent the flow of militants and weapons into eastern Ukraine," he said. | "Russia has a responsibility to engage constructively with the Ukrainian government in Kiev, to prevent the flow of militants and weapons into eastern Ukraine," he said. |
Mr Obama is on a three-country visit to Europe that takes him next to Brussels later on Wednesday for a meeting of the G7 major industrial nations. | Mr Obama is on a three-country visit to Europe that takes him next to Brussels later on Wednesday for a meeting of the G7 major industrial nations. |
It will be the world leaders' first gathering since Russia was removed from the G8 in protest over its annexation of Crimea in March. | It will be the world leaders' first gathering since Russia was removed from the G8 in protest over its annexation of Crimea in March. |
Mr Poroshenko is making his first official visit abroad since winning the 25 May election. | Mr Poroshenko is making his first official visit abroad since winning the 25 May election. |