Trump says U.S. will work with Kiev and Moscow to end Ukraine conflict

[rooster59]

Trump says U.S. will work with Kiev and Moscow to end Ukraine conflict

By David Shepardson and Natalia Zinets

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko address a news conference in Berlin, Germany, January 30, 2017. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

 

WASHINGTON/KIEV (Reuters) - U.S President Donald Trump said he was willing to work with both Kiev and Moscow to resolve a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine, following a telephone call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Saturday.

The call was the first direct contact between the two leaders since the inauguration of Trump, whose aim to improve relations with the Kremlin has alarmed Kiev while the nearly three-year-old conflict remains unresolved.

It followed fresh artillery attacks in Ukraine's Donbass region, which broke a lull in shelling at a frontline hot-spot that had raised hopes the conflict's worst escalation in months was waning.

"We will work with Ukraine, Russia, and all other parties involved to help them restore peace along the border," Trump said in a White House statement after talking to Poroshenko.

Trump's open admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and campaign pledge to mend ties with Moscow have raised questions over his administration's commitment to maintaining sanctions against Russia for its involvement in the fighting and annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Poroshenko's office said the conversation with Trump paid particular attention to "settlement of the situation in the Donbass and achieving peace via political and diplomatic means."

"The two sides discussed strengthening the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States," it said in a statement.

Earlier the Ukrainian military and Russia-backed separatists accused each other of launching a new wave of shelling. The past week has seen a flare-up in hostilities in which more than 40 people have been killed in both government- and rebel-held areas.

The escalation near the town of Avdiyivka has left thousands on both sides of the front line with little or no access to power or water amid freezing winter temperatures, prompting aid agencies to warn of a possible humanitarian crisis.

The U.S. and EU sanctions against Russia are linked to accusations from Kiev and NATO that the Kremlin has fuelled the conflict by supporting separatists with troops and weapons - a charge it denies.

Russia says Ukraine instigated the latest surge to firm up Western support, while Kiev accuses the Kremlin of stirring up the violence to test the new U.S. administration's will to involve itself in the crisis.

Trump said his respect for Putin would not affect his foreign policy.

"I respect a lot of people but that doesn't mean I'm going to get along with him. He's a leader of his country. I say it's better to get along with Russia than not," Trump said in an interview with Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Saturday.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-05

[craigt3365]

Easy to stop this.  Have Russia leave the Crimea and stop funding the terrorists in Eastern Ukraine.  Problem solved.

[smutcakes]

1 minute ago, craigt3365 said:

Easy to stop this.  Have Russia leave the Crimea and stop funding the terrorists in Eastern Ukraine.  Problem solved.

 

Or have the US stop funding Ukraine and arming them. and keep their unwanted noses out of matters that don't concern them.

[craigt3365]

35 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

 

Or have the US stop funding Ukraine and arming them. and keep their unwanted noses out of matters that don't concern them.

There's a bit of a difference between supporting forces for democracy and actually providing weapons to terrorists bombing and killing innocent civilians.

 

You could say the same about Russia.  They should leave the sovereign country of Ukraine alone.

[craigt3365]

Worth a read if you have the time:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/coping-with-russia

 

Quote

 

Coping with Russia

 

From:

Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon MP

 

 

[Rob13]

41 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Easy to stop this.  Have Russia leave the Crimea and stop funding the terrorists in Eastern Ukraine.  Problem solved.

 

Easily said anyways. 

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Easy to stop this.  Have Russia leave the Crimea and stop funding the terrorists in Eastern Ukraine.  Problem solved.

 

and return to democratically elected Ukrainian president to office too? The one the US backed insurgents removed? But he was pro Russian which didn't suit Obama.

 

Crimea was never part of Russia until the Ukrainian Soviet dictator Kruschev gave it to them in the 1950's and the population are not ethnic Ukrainians. Hardly a claim.

 

 

[craigt3365]

2 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

and return to democratically elected Ukrainian president to office too? The one the US backed insurgents removed? But he was pro Russian which didn't suit Obama.

 

Crimea was never part of Russia until the Ukrainian Soviet dictator Kruschev gave it to them in the 1950's and the population are not ethnic Ukrainians. Hardly a claim.

 

 

You are aware of how that president was elected?  And why they were removed...and now hiding out in Russia...LOL

 

The people of Ukraine kicked him out.  And for good reason.

 

Ummm....Kruschev gave it to Ukraine.  So you are confirming they had ownership and it was illegally taken away.  Good.  This is what all Western nations agree with.