President Obama held up post-communist Poland on Wednesday as a model for its struggling neighbor Ukraine as he warned of "dark tactics" from Russia and vowed to defend a region long trampled by foreign forces.
"Here we see the strength of free nations that stand united," Obama told thousands of people gathered in Warsaw to celebrate the anniversary of elections that led to the end of communist rule 25 years ago.
"This land was invaded and conquered, carved up and occupied," he said. "But those days are over. Poland understands as few other nations do that every nation must be free to chart its own course, to forge its own partnerships, to choose its own allies."
Obama declared Ukrainians the "heirs of Solidarity" — a tribute to the movement that led the push for Poland's political transformation. Like the Poles, the Ukrainians are fighting for self-determination, he said.
"Beaten and bloodied, they refused to yield," he said of the Ukrainians. "Threatened and harassed, they lined up to vote. They elected a new president in a free election — because a leader's legitimacy can only come from the consent of the people."
Obama's remarks came shortly after his first formal meeting with Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko, the chocolate magnate and politician who won last week's balloting. After the 70-minute meeting, Obama announced that he had approved a package of $5 million in nonlethal aid for Ukrainian defense forces to be used for body armor, night-vision goggles and communications equipment.
"Here we see the strength of free nations that stand united," Obama told thousands of people gathered in Warsaw to celebrate the anniversary of elections that led to the end of communist rule 25 years ago.
"This land was invaded and conquered, carved up and occupied," he said. "But those days are over. Poland understands as few other nations do that every nation must be free to chart its own course, to forge its own partnerships, to choose its own allies."
Obama declared Ukrainians the "heirs of Solidarity" — a tribute to the movement that led the push for Poland's political transformation. Like the Poles, the Ukrainians are fighting for self-determination, he said.
"Beaten and bloodied, they refused to yield," he said of the Ukrainians. "Threatened and harassed, they lined up to vote. They elected a new president in a free election — because a leader's legitimacy can only come from the consent of the people."
Obama's remarks came shortly after his first formal meeting with Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko, the chocolate magnate and politician who won last week's balloting. After the 70-minute meeting, Obama announced that he had approved a package of $5 million in nonlethal aid for Ukrainian defense forces to be used for body armor, night-vision goggles and communications equipment.
Ukrainian officials have been open about their requests for more U.S. military help as they battle pro-Russia separatists in the eastern part of the country. U.S. officials suggested Wednesday that such support was on the table for discussion. Deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes said Obama told Poroshenko that he was "very open" to the possibility.
But such aid would probably be tied to long-term reforms in a country that has been plagued by corruption and weak institutions. Poroshenko and Obama discussed plans for such reforms, as well as easing Ukraine's dependence on Russian energy and efforts to decentralize its federal control to accommodate calls for more autonomy in the east...
But such aid would probably be tied to long-term reforms in a country that has been plagued by corruption and weak institutions. Poroshenko and Obama discussed plans for such reforms, as well as easing Ukraine's dependence on Russian energy and efforts to decentralize its federal control to accommodate calls for more autonomy in the east...
Source: News in Hindi
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