Poroshenko asks U.S. for military aid, special security status:
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has asked a joint session of the U.S. Congress for military aid and to confirm a special security status for Ukraine.
Poroshenko said that his army needed more military equipment, both "lethal and nonlethal."
He said "blankets, night-vision goggles are also important. But one cannot win a war with blankets...and cannot keep the peace with blankets."
Poroshenko described Ukraine's conflict with Russia as the world's worst since the U.S.-Soviet Cuban missile crisis in 1962 and urged the United States not to let "Ukraine stand alone in the face of this aggression."
Poroshenko also said that Russia's annexation of Crimea became one of "the most cynical acts of treachery in modern history."
He added that there is "no way, at no price, and under no condition" that Kyiv will put up with the occupation.
Poroshenko has now ended his speech with an emotional "Slava Ukrayini!" (Glory to Ukraine!). He gets a long standing ovation. We'll have a news wrap up of his speech for you shortly.
Meanwhile, this has also been lighting up social media networks:
Putin: Russian Troops could be in Vilnius, Warsaw, and Bucharest in Two Days http://t.co/XiqHfLD6Vo
— toomas hendrik ilves (@IlvesToomas) September 18, 2014
By supporting Ukraine, Poroshenko says, you support the future of the new Europe.
Poroshenko: I'm ready to offer separatists more rights than any other regions in Ukrainian history.
— Dan Peleschuk (@dpeleschuk) September 18, 2014
Poroshenko says he's ready to discuss everything, except one thing -- "Ukrainian independence, Ukrainian territorial integrity..."
Poroshenko speaks of "spirit of hate" between Russia/Ukraine
— Dan Peleschuk (@dpeleschuk) September 18, 2014
Poroshenko says he is in daily contact with world leaders, including the Russian leadership. That dialogue, he says, "believe me, is not easy."
Ukraine's Poroshenko has just called Russia a 'neo-Stalinist dictatorship'
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) September 18, 2014
More American rhetoric from Poroshenko: tell heart-rending stories of individual Ukrainian citizens abducted and tortured, quote Kennedy:
— max seddon (@maxseddon) September 18, 2014
After paying tribute to some Ukrainians who were abducted and presumbaly killed by separatists, Poroshenko says Ukraine symbolizes a simple choice between "civilization and barbarism."