Poroshenko says he is in daily contact with world leaders, including the Russian leadership. That dialogue, he says, "believe me, is not easy."
Poroshenko speaks of "spirit of hate" between Russia/Ukraine
— Dan Peleschuk (@dpeleschuk) September 18, 2014
Poroshenko says he's ready to discuss everything, except one thing -- "Ukrainian independence, Ukrainian territorial integrity..."
Poroshenko: I'm ready to offer separatists more rights than any other regions in Ukrainian history.
— Dan Peleschuk (@dpeleschuk) September 18, 2014
By supporting Ukraine, Poroshenko says, you support the future of the new Europe.
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
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.
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.
Minsk announces new round of Ukraine talks:
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry says a new round of talks aimed at finding a lasting solution to the Ukraine crisis will take place in Minsk on September 19.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the meeting will take place but gave no time for the gathering of the so-called Contact Group that includes representatives of Russia, Ukraine, pro-Russian separatists, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Andrei Purgin, the self-styled deputy prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, will reportedly take part in the talks.
Ukraine will be represented by ex-President Leonid Kuchma.
The new talks come after Ukraine and separatists agreed to a cease-fire on September 5 as part of a "road map" to resolving five months of deadly conflict.
The fragile truce has largely held despite sporadic fighting.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko spoke to a joint session of the U.S. Congress on September 18, calling on the United States "not to let Ukraine stand alone in the face of this [Russian] aggression." Poroshenko called for further political support and military aid from the United States.
