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U.S. ‘committed’ to aiding Ukraine but seeks progress on government formation, reforms U.S. ‘committed’ to aiding Ukraine but seeks progress on government formation, reforms
(about 2 hours later)
KIEV, Ukraine — The Obama administration is prepared to “bring more resources to bear” to help Ukraine, but Washington and its allies are looking for more momentum from Kiev in forming a new government and implementing promised reforms, a senior U.S. official said as Vice President Biden arrived here late Thursday.KIEV, Ukraine — The Obama administration is prepared to “bring more resources to bear” to help Ukraine, but Washington and its allies are looking for more momentum from Kiev in forming a new government and implementing promised reforms, a senior U.S. official said as Vice President Biden arrived here late Thursday.
Biden’s “number one message is, ‘We’ve got your back,’ ” said the official, traveling with the vice president aboard Air Force Two. The “other” message to Ukraine, the official said, is that “we’re committed to helping you, but we can’t do it alone, so you have to help us help you.”Biden’s “number one message is, ‘We’ve got your back,’ ” said the official, traveling with the vice president aboard Air Force Two. The “other” message to Ukraine, the official said, is that “we’re committed to helping you, but we can’t do it alone, so you have to help us help you.”
The trip comes amid Western accusations that Russia has failed to abide by the terms of a September cease-fire agreement between Kiev and pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine, and has increased the flow of weapons and troops to help the rebels. The trip comes amid Western accusations that Russia has failed to abide by the terms of a September cease-fire agreement between Kiev and pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine and has increased the flow of weapons and troops to help the rebels.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has asked the West for lethal military aid and stepped-up economic assistance as fighting in the east has reignited and winter approaches. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has asked the West for lethal military aid and more economic help as fighting in the east has reignited and winter nears.
U.S. lawmakers also have pressed for more aid to Kiev. Antony Blinken, President Obama’s deputy national security adviser, told Congress on Wednesday that “it’s time to provide defensive lethal military assistance to Ukraine and escalate pressure on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.” Blinken was testifying at a Senate hearing on his nomination to be deputy secretary of state.U.S. lawmakers also have pressed for more aid to Kiev. Antony Blinken, President Obama’s deputy national security adviser, told Congress on Wednesday that “it’s time to provide defensive lethal military assistance to Ukraine and escalate pressure on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.” Blinken was testifying at a Senate hearing on his nomination to be deputy secretary of state.
Russia responded angrily to his comments, saying Thursday that they sent a “very serious signal.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said that any arms shipments would constitute “a major change in policy of the administration in regard to the conflict” in Ukraine, the Reuters news agency reported.Russia responded angrily to his comments, saying Thursday that they sent a “very serious signal.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said that any arms shipments would constitute “a major change in policy of the administration in regard to the conflict” in Ukraine, the Reuters news agency reported.
So far, the United States has provided only nonlethal military assistance, including vehicles and night-vision goggles, to Ukraine. The United States has provided only nonlethal military assistance, including vehicles and night-vision goggles, to Ukraine.
But recent signs of Russian escalation have added urgency to a debate within the Obama administration about whether lethal “defensive” equipment would only increase the violence and prove to be little match for continually increasing Russian supplies to the separatists. But recent signs of Russian escalation have added urgency to a debate in the Obama administration on whether lethal “defensive” equipment would only increase the violence and be little match for continually increasing Russian supplies to the separatists.
U.S. allies in Europe are even less eager to provide lethal assistance and, along with the International Monetary Fund, are pressing hard for more progress on a new government in Kiev and promised reforms before committing to a significant increase in economic aid. U.S. allies in Europe are even less eager to provide lethal assistance and, along with the International Monetary Fund, are pressing hard for more progress on a new government in Kiev and promised reforms before committing to significantly more economic aid.
Negotiations on forming a government are going on between parties led by Poroshenko and the current prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, as well as parties that took a smaller share of seats in the Oct. 26 parliamentary elections. The new parliament is to be seated Dec. 1. Talks on forming a government involve parties led by Poroshenko and the prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, as well as parties that took a smaller share of seats in the Oct. 26 parliamentary elections.
Biden plans to meet separately with Poroshenko and Yatsenyuk before departing for Turkey on Friday evening. He will also participate in a roundtable discussion on Ukraine’s efforts to stem corruption. Biden plans to meet separately with Poroshenko and Yatsenyuk before leaving for Turkey on Friday evening. He also will take part in a roundtable on Ukraine’s efforts to stem corruption.
In an interview published in the Ukrainian newspaper Day on the eve of his visit, Biden said, “As Ukraine demonstrates its own force of will, in standing up to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in pushing through difficult reforms, in developing its democracy and undertaking to combat corruption and restoring economic health, we will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine.” In an interview in the Ukrainian newspaper Day on the eve of his visit, Biden said, “As Ukraine demonstrates its own force of will, in standing up to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in pushing through difficult reforms, in developing its democracy and undertaking to combat corruption and restoring economic health, we will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine.”
“We have been clear from the beginning that there is no military solution to this crisis,” he said, “despite the fact that this is obviously what Russia is trying to impose through its proxies in eastern Ukraine.”“We have been clear from the beginning that there is no military solution to this crisis,” he said, “despite the fact that this is obviously what Russia is trying to impose through its proxies in eastern Ukraine.”
The senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of Biden’s talks, said, “First there has to be a government, and the government has to have a platform.”The senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of Biden’s talks, said, “First there has to be a government, and the government has to have a platform.”
“We’re not expecting everything done and all realized before” the United States steps up assistance, the official said. “But what the financial markets are looking for, what we’re looking for and the Europeans are looking for is a sense of momentum in the right direction, not us coming and pointing and telling them things they don’t know.”“We’re not expecting everything done and all realized before” the United States steps up assistance, the official said. “But what the financial markets are looking for, what we’re looking for and the Europeans are looking for is a sense of momentum in the right direction, not us coming and pointing and telling them things they don’t know.”