Ukrainian president calls for global response to Russian threat

[webfact]

Ukrainian president calls for global response to Russian threat

By Stephen Adler and Sujata Rao

REUTERS

 

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko speaks during a news conference at the PGE National Stadium, in Warsaw, Poland July 9, 2016. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo

 

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called for a worldwide effort to counter the threat of Russian cyber warfare and urged the United States to "be great again" by demonstrating leadership on issues such as global security.

 

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pledge to improve ties with the Kremlin and open admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin has put Ukraine, whose Crimea region was annexed by Russia in 2014, under the spotlight.

 

Poroshenko played down speculation that Washington could backtrack on its support for Kiev, noting that Trump had said publicly he would stick to U.S. obligations and there had been "promising" statements by nominees to his cabinet.

 

"That gives us a lot more optimism for the future," Poroshenko told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, adding he already had a visit planned to meet the new U.S. president "in a few months".

 

Poroshenko said joint global efforts were needed to halt Russian aggression, both military and cyber:

 

"There is a global cyber war of Russia against (the) whole world, there is lots of evidence. This is a global danger and the world should be together to fight this danger."

 

Ukraine's utility Ukrenergo told Reuters on Wednesday in Kiev that a cyber attack was behind a Dec 17-18 power blackout in the capital city.

 

Ukrenergo did not say who was behind the incident, although Ukrainian security services blamed Russian cyber attacks for similar power outages in December 2015. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in cyber attacks on Ukraine..

 

Moscow is also alleged to have sought to influence the U.S. election by hacking Democratic political groups, something Russia has dismissed.

 

"The same way as Russian propaganda is an element of Russian hybrid war, cyber (warfare) is an element of the Russian hybrid war, no matter if it's in Germany or United States," the Ukrainian president said.

 

QUESTION OF SECURITY

 

Poroshenko also stressed the importance of NATO as a bulwark against Moscow after Trump stirred unease in Europe by calling the military alliance "obsolete".

 

"NATO, mainly this is not a question of money, it is a question of security. Russian aggression demonstrated again there is no other security system but NATO which was effective to stop the aggression," he said.

 

And to demonstrate its role as a global leader, the U.S. would need to establish trans-Atlantic unity.

 

"America should be great again," he said in a reference to Trump's campaign catchphrase.

 

Poroshenko also said that Ukraine expected to get clearance for visa-free travel to the European Union for its citizens within a "very few" weeks after meeting the bloc's requirements.

 

An agreement reached last month after weeks of stalling has yet to come into effect.

 

"This is a direct obligation of the EU....We are waiting for the very few moments or weeks for finishing the paperwork for these things and launching," he said.

 

Poroshenko is also confident of getting Crimea back from Russia, which denies sending troops or military equipment into Ukraine. Kiev this month filed a lawsuit at the United Nations' highest court demanding that Russia halt support for pro-Moscow separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine..

 

Asked whether Ukraine would ever regain Crimea, Poroshenko said: "I have no doubt. This is Ukrainian territory, Ukrainian people. This was brutal violation of international law."

 

(Editing by Alexander Smith)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-01-19

[Krataiboy]

Of course there is a cyber war going on. Russia just happens to be winning it, that's all.

 

What does this US-proxy clown running the Ukraine want in its place - a nuclear confrontation with Putin, who happens to have even more nuclear warheads at his disposal than has the American President?

 

This  is where we are already heading at warp speed, with the Doomsday Clock at three minutes to midnight (closer to Armageddon than even during the height of the Cuban missile crisis).

 

The NATO countries like the US and UK should spend less time and money on largely useless mass surveillance of their own largely-law-abiding citizens and more on keeping tabs on the opposition.

 

Then, who knows - they might be in the game with the Russian chess masters. Until then, let's hope our Donald can get around the table with  the Russian leader and settle matters with the help of a bottle or two of vodka and a few of those delicious Moscow tarts he is said to savour.

Edited January 19, 2017 by Krataiboy
errors

[craigt3365]

3 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

What does this US-proxy clown running the Ukraine want in its place - a nuclear confrontation with Putin, who happens to have even more nuclear warheads at his disposal than has the American President?

He's far from a US proxy, unlike his predecessor who is hiding out in Russia.  But what he wants is for Russian troops to leave his country.  Hard to argue with that.

[zaphod reborn]

Who cares about greatness?  This is all about Putin and Trump stashing billions of oil revenues into offshore accounts.

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, Pakboong said:

 

OSCE is responsible for enforcing the treaty.

No. Read your link.

OSCE is responsible for monitoring compliance to the treaty. They are unarmed, nuetral observers that encourages combatants to let them move relatively freely behind lines. Enforcement needs to come from Ukraine, it allies and potentially NATO. 

[Baerboxer]

On 1/19/2017 at 10:11 AM, craigt3365 said:

He's far from a US proxy, unlike his predecessor who is hiding out in Russia.  But what he wants is for Russian troops to leave his country.  Hard to argue with that.

 

But his predecessor was democratically elected, and overthrown in a coup backed by America. So that does tend to suggest he might be a tad influenced by America.

 

 

[craigt3365]

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

But his predecessor was democratically elected, and overthrown in a coup backed by America. So that does tend to suggest he might be a tad influenced by America.

 

 

Were US troops in Ukraine supporting that coup?

[narak34]

Of course he does. Nothing better than to deflect the accusations for his corrupt government than to redirect blame to the Russians. Worked for Hillary, almost...

[craigt3365]

12 minutes ago, narak34 said:

Of course he does. Nothing better than to deflect the accusations for his corrupt government than to redirect blame to the Russians. Worked for Hillary, almost...

The government is definitely corrupt.  But that's not what this topic is about.  It's about Russian troops illegally in the sovereign country of Ukraine.  Not a deflection at all.