Trump, Poroshenko Discuss Ukraine Conflict, Call for Cease-Fire

EghtesadOnline: President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart discussed concerns about an escalation in fighting in eastern Ukraine and talked about bolstering the strategic partnership between their countries, according to a readout of the conversation.

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05 February 2017

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called for boosting dialogue and economic ties with the U.S. and discussed a potential visit to Washington, Svyatoslav Tsegolko, Poroshenko’s press secretary, said in a Facebook post.

In a summary, the White House said Trump had a “very good call” with Poroshenko that included a discussion of Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. “We will work with Ukraine, Russia and all other parties involved to help them restore peace along the border,” Trump said.

According to Bloomberg, it was Trump’s second call to a world leader on Saturday after he earlier spoke with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and agreed to attend the G-7 Summit in Taormina, Italy, in May.

The conversation with Poroshenko comes after more than a week of intense fighting between government troops and pro-Russian separatists near Ukraine’s Russian border, the latest episode in a crisis that began when Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014. Both sides have deployed heavy artillery, and the rebels are using Russian-made drones to aid artillery spotters, according to a spokesman for Ukraine’s presidential administration.

Tougher Approach

Statements Trump made during and after the 2016 campaign have raised questions about how the new president and his security team will respond. Trump has indicated he’d be willing to consider easing sanctions imposed on Russia in exchange for cooperation in the fight against Islamic State terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

Over the last week, however, the new administration appeared to be taking a tougher approach. A signal that the U.S. was standing by its pre-Trump position came when the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations used her first speech to the UN Security Council to pledge that sanctions will be maintained.

“We do want to better our relations with Russia,” ambassador Nikki Haley told the world body on Feb. 2. “However, the dire situation in eastern Ukraine is one that demands clear and strong condemnation of Russian actions. The United States stands with the people of Ukraine who have suffered for nearly three years under Russian occupation and military intervention.”

White House spokesman Sean Spicer told MSNBC on Friday that Trump, in conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, is “going to make it very clear what his position is, not just with respect to Ukraine, but with respect to our entire geopolitical landscape and our national security interests.”

Sanctions imposed on Russia because of its occupation of Crimea “are going to stay in place until they withdraw,” Spicer said.

Private Assurances

Politico reported that Trump had given former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko private assurances on sanctions, a stronger position than the president has taken publicly. Tymoshenko was said to have spoken with Trump during an aside at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Feb. 1.

Citing the timing of the latest rebel offensive, which began a day after Trump spoke by phone with Putin, Senator John McCain of Arizona, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned Trump this week that Russia was testing the new president.

McCain urged Trump to provide Ukraine with lethal aid to help the country battle the rebels, a move that would go further than the previous administration. The Obama administration supplied only non-lethal equipment and medical supplies to Ukrainian government forces.

In Trump’s call with Italy’s Gentiloni the pair discussed the countries’ bilateral relationship, the importance of the NATO alliance, the crisis in Ukraine and threats to common security, according to summaries from the respective sides. Trump and Gentiloni also discussed Libya and the influx of migrants and refugees into Europe.