Mike Eckel, an RFE/RL correspondent based in Washington, has sent us this report on Volodymyr Hroysman's visit to the U.S. capital:
Ukrainian PM: Maintain Western Sanctions Until Russian Withdrawal
WASHINGTON -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman urged Western governments to maintain tough sanctions on Russia until it withdraws forces from eastern Ukraine and cedes control of Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow seized from Kyiv in 2014.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington on June 16, Hroysman also heralded his government's steps toward institutional and economic reforms, saying changes to the customs service, public procurement procedures, and the courts will make the country more attractive to investors.
"Ukraine needs reforms, and my message is that the new government…is ready to reform the country, is ready to lead the changes and implement the changes that are needed for Ukraine," he told reporters.
Hroysman's visit to Washington -- his first since becoming prime minister in April -- comes amid struggling efforts by Kyiv to shore up support financial and technical support for its fragile economy.
Ukraine's economy has been battered by the precipitous drop in trade with Russia that followed Moscow's annexation of Crimea in March 2014 after its military seizure of the peninsula. The ensuing war in eastern Ukraine, home to much of the country's industrial base, also eviscerated the economy.
Kyiv has been struggling to implement deep structural reforms, including rooting out endemic corruption, to meet conditions attached to International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance.
Hroysman's senior economic adviser, Ivan Miklos, said on June 15 that officials are hoping the IMF will release $1.7 billion in delayed aid this year in two installments as Ukraine institutes required reforms.
Waning Support For Sanctions?
U.S. and EU backing for Ukraine in its standoff with Russia has included sweeping economic sanctions that have helped drive Russia's economy into recession.
But support for the sanctions in some Western capitals appears to be waning; the EU is expected next month to prolong its sanctions for another six months, though rhetoric from some of the bloc's leaders indicates that they could be scaled back next year.
"The sanctions can be eliminated only when the aggressor returns within its borders, when the aggressor renounces his aggressive plans. Only in such a case can the sanctions can be eased or eliminated," Hroysman said.
"The removal of sanctions can be absolutely real if the aggressor demonstrates respect for the international law and leaves the sovereignty of an independent state and returns its troops to its own territory," he added.
Russia has consistently denied involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine despite what Kyiv and NATO call overwhelming evidence that it has supported the separatists with troops and weapons.
Russia and Ukraine have also been at loggerheads over billions of dollars in debts that each side claims the other owes. Moscow offered Kyiv a $15 billion cash infusion in 2013, in a bid to persuade the government of then President Viktor Yanukovych not to sign an EU association agreement.
Moscow had transferred only $3 billion of that infusion before Yanukovych was ousted amid violent street protests, and Russia has since demanded the money back.
Hroysman sought to link the debt issue to the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory.
"In reality, it is Russia that has huge debts to Ukraine, and these debts could be somewhat decreased by the de-occupation of Crimea and withdrawal of Russian troops from the territories of the Donbas," he said, referring to the region in eastern Ukraine where Russia-backed separatists control territory.
"And I think after these things happen, we could consider settlement of all other financial debts," Hroysman added.
The White House announced a day earlier that Washington would give Ukraine $220 million in new aid this year to support reform efforts, bringing total U.S. aid to Kyiv since 2014 to $1.3 billion.
The United States has also provided $2 billion in loan guarantees, and earlier this month approved an agreement allowing Kyiv to use one-third of a $1 billion guarantee in the coming months.
A tweet pertaining to Ukraine's match with Northern Ireland at the Euro 2016 soccer championship today (the Ukrainians lost 2-0). Probably not the best piece of terrace banter the NI fans have come up with:
Here's more on Ban Ki-moon's statement in St. Petersburg, which has angered some in Ukraine:
Ukraine's UN Envoy 'Outraged' By UN Chief's Comments On Russia
Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations has said he was "completely outraged" by the UN chief’s speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
In his June 16 speech, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Russia "has a critical role to play" in addressing global issues "from ending the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, to safeguarding human rights and controlling the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."
Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko said he doesn't understand how the UN chief "can say such things which sort of praise the role of Russia in settling the conflict in Ukraine when the Russian Federation is the main player in aggressing Ukraine and in keeping this conflict boiling."
Yelchenko also said Russia is accused of rights abuses in Crimea and that Moscow is "building up the nuclear potential" on the Black Sea peninsula.
Russia forcibly annexed Ukraine's Crimea in March 2013 and backs separatists in the country’s east.
Based on reporting by AFP and AP
Here another item from our news desk:
Ukraine's Rada Urges Ukrainian Orthodox Church's Separation From Moscow
Ukrainian lawmakers have approved an appeal to the worldwide head of the Orthodox Church asking him to recognize the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's independence from Moscow.
The appeal was adopted in Kyiv on June 16 by 245 lawmakers in favor and urges Istanbul-based Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to declare invalid a 1686 act that attached the Kyiv metropolitan to the Moscow Patriarchate "in violation of canons."
The Moscow Patriarchate reacted to the Ukrainian parliament move with harsh criticism, saying that the Ukrainian legislature has no right to administer interchurch issues.
There are three major Orthodox churches in Ukraine: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate.
The latter is unrecognized by other Eastern Orthodox churches.
The Ukrainian lawmakers' move came the day when a historic forum of the Pan-Orthodox Council on the island of Crete is opening, at which the Ukrainian lawmakers' appeal might be considered.
The Orthodox Churches of Russia, Bulgaria, Syria, and Georgia have declared they will not attend the special council.
An Orthodox Church council with all the recognized branches of the Orthodox church attending has not occurred since A.D. 787.
The Orthodox Church broke away from the Catholic Church in 1054.