Ukrainian President Poroshenko demands weapons from United States and special security status within NATO
Monitoring Desk: The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has demanded NATO to give “special security status” to Ukraine.
While addressing the joint meeting of US Congress, Poroshenko insisted that his country needed “more support” then the United States was providing to Kiev. He demanded more weapons and equipment including lethal and non-lethal” to keep peace in the east of his country.
According to the Ukrainian media, Poroshenko said in his speech that US President Barack Obama had pledged only non-lethal assistance to Kiev but non-lethal equipment would not be enough to fight in Eastern Ukraine.
“Blankets and night-vision goggles are important, but one cannot win the war with blankets. You cannot keep the peace with a blanket,” he said, to applause, adding that Ukraine urgently needs “more military equipment, both lethal and non-lethal“.
He then accused Russia of having as “imperial mindset” and “nostalgia for the Soviet Union“, referring to Crimea’s breakaway and Russia’s alleged support of rebels in eastern Ukraine.
“The war that these men are fighting is not only Ukraine’s war,” Poroshenko said. “It is Europe’s, and it is America’s war too. It is a war of the free world, and for the free world.”, added Poroshenko.
Poroshenko asked Congress to help Ukraine build a strong, modern army and grant the country “special, non-allied partner status.”
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Poroshenko speaking at joint meeting of us congress
Ukrainian President Poroshenko demands weapons from United States
