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In Kiev, Biden pledges support for fair election, help to weather economic pressure With eye on Russia, U.S. troops to conduct exercises in Eastern Europe
(about 5 hours later)
KIEV, Ukraine — Vice President Biden pledged American support Tuesday to help Ukraine stage a successful presidential election next month and to defy Russian economic pressure, but he also warned Ukrainian leaders that they must confront the nation’s rampant official corruption to meet the high political demands of a frustrated public. The Pentagon announced Tuesday that it would send about 600 troops to Poland and the three Baltic states to conduct exercises and training in response to Russia’s involvement in nearby Ukraine.
Biden concluded a brief visit here — one devoted largely to providing moral support to a country in political crisis — by announcing that the United States would provide an additional $50 million in assistance to Ukraine, including $11.4 million to help conduct the election scheduled for May 25, as well as expertise to assist Ukraine in reducing its reliance on Russian energy supplies. “Since Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, we have been constantly looking at ways to reassure allies and partners,” Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters. “If there’s a message to Moscow, it is the same exact message, that we take our obligations very, very seriously on the continent of Europe.”
He said a company of about 150 paratroopers based in Vicenza, Italy, will arrive in Poland on Wednesday. Three other paratrooper companies from the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team will arrive in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia no later than Monday, Kirby added.
He said the exercises were expected to last about a month, but that the paratroopers would be replaced by other U.S. troops on a rotational basis. “What we’re after here is a persistent presence,” he added.
Although Poland and the Baltic states are members of NATO, Kirby said the troop deployment was not part of a NATO mission. Leaders of those countries have been pressing the Obama administration to enhance the U.S. military presence inside their borders as an added deterrence to Russia.
“It’s more than symbology,” Kirby said. “The kind of work that we’re going to be doing is real infantry training. And that’s not insignificant.”
The announcement came as Vice President Biden, traveling in Ukraine, pledged American support to help the government stage a successful presidential election next month and to defy Russian economic pressure.
Biden concluded his brief visit — one devoted largely to providing moral support to a country in political crisis — by announcing that the United States would provide an additional $50 million in assistance to Ukraine, including $11.4 million to help conduct the election scheduled for May 25, as well as expertise to assist Ukraine in reducing its reliance on Russian energy supplies.
He also announced a modest increase of $8 million in nonlethal security aid to the Ukrainian armed forces and border guards, who are now confronting pro-Russian groups in the country’s eastern regions. The aid includes bomb-disposal equipment, vehicles and radio and other communications gear, and it comes in addition to a $10 million package announced earlier.He also announced a modest increase of $8 million in nonlethal security aid to the Ukrainian armed forces and border guards, who are now confronting pro-Russian groups in the country’s eastern regions. The aid includes bomb-disposal equipment, vehicles and radio and other communications gear, and it comes in addition to a $10 million package announced earlier.
The vice president’s presence here was the heart of his message, though, and it was directed both at Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s own leadership. In meetings with Ukrainian lawmakers, civil society leaders and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Biden denounced Russia’s annexation of Crimea last month and its support for armed groups occupying government buildings in the east, as well as the corruption he described as endemic to Ukrainian politics. The vice president’s presence in Kiev was the heart of his message, though, and it was directed both at Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s own leadership. In meetings with Ukrainian lawmakers, civil society leaders and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Biden denounced Russia’s annexation of Crimea last month and its support for armed groups occupying government buildings in the east, as well as the corruption he described as endemic to Ukrainian politics.
Speaking to a group of lawmakers that included three presidential candidates, Biden said the political unrest in Kiev and Russian threats in eastern border regions present a “second opportunity to make good on the promise of the Orange Revolution,” the 2004 post-election uprising that led to the nullification of a rigged presidential vote won by pro-Russian politician Viktor Yanukovych.Speaking to a group of lawmakers that included three presidential candidates, Biden said the political unrest in Kiev and Russian threats in eastern border regions present a “second opportunity to make good on the promise of the Orange Revolution,” the 2004 post-election uprising that led to the nullification of a rigged presidential vote won by pro-Russian politician Viktor Yanukovych.
The demonstrations that began here last November also targeted Yanukovych, who was elected president in 2010. Supported by Russia, Yanukovych fled the country in February, although he and his Russian patrons say he was illegally overthrown and remains Ukraine’s legitimate leader. The demonstrations that began in Kiev last November also targeted Yanukovych, who was elected president in 2010. Supported by Russia, Yanukovych fled the country in February, although he and his Russian patrons say he was illegally overthrown and remains Ukraine’s legitimate leader.
The election next month will usher in a new president and, U.S. officials hope, give new momentum to a constitutional reform process designed to extend more political authority to Ukraine’s various regional governments. In a pair of appearances here, Biden called the May 25 vote perhaps “the most important in Ukraine’s history.” The election next month will usher in a new president and, U.S. officials hope, give new momentum to a constitutional reform process designed to extend more political authority to Ukraine’s various regional governments. In a pair of appearances there, Biden called the May 25 vote perhaps “the most important in Ukraine’s history.”
In his meeting with Ukrainian lawmakers, Biden expressed sympathy for the challenging political situation they face, squeezed by public protests here and by pro-Russian forces demanding a vote to separate from Ukraine in some eastern regions. But he also urged them to confront what he called “the cancer of corruption that is endemic in your system right now.” In his meeting with Ukrainian lawmakers, Biden expressed sympathy for the challenging political situation they face, squeezed by public protests and by pro-Russian forces demanding a vote to separate from Ukraine in some eastern regions. But he also urged them to confront what he called “the cancer of corruption that is endemic in your system right now.”
“You face very daunting problems, and some might say, humiliating threats,” Biden said. “But the opportunity to generate a united Ukraine, getting it right, is within your grasp. And we want to be your partner and friend in the project. We want to assist.”“You face very daunting problems, and some might say, humiliating threats,” Biden said. “But the opportunity to generate a united Ukraine, getting it right, is within your grasp. And we want to be your partner and friend in the project. We want to assist.”
Biden met for more than an hour with Yatsenyuk, an administration favorite. Afterward, Yatsenyuk said Russia’s support for self-proclaimed separatists in Ukraine’s east is an effort to disrupt the presidential election.Biden met for more than an hour with Yatsenyuk, an administration favorite. Afterward, Yatsenyuk said Russia’s support for self-proclaimed separatists in Ukraine’s east is an effort to disrupt the presidential election.
The prime minister said the next president must carry out constitutional reforms — including providing Ukraine’s various regions authority over budgets and over cultural decisions about language — and must promote the nation’s integration with Europe. Putin has criticized such a move, but Yatsenyuk said Tuesday with Biden at his side that Russia “should not behave as gangsters in this modern century.” The prime minister said the next president must carry out constitutional reforms — including providing Ukraine’s various regions authority over budgets and over cultural decisions about language — and must promote the nation’s integration with Europe. Putin has criticized such a move, but Yatsenyuk said Tuesday with Biden at his side that Russia “should not behave as gangsters in this modern century.”
“We will carry out the presidential election,” Yatsenyuk said, adding that the vote will be held under the watch of international observers.“We will carry out the presidential election,” Yatsenyuk said, adding that the vote will be held under the watch of international observers.
Biden is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Ukraine since Russia’s move into Crimea two months ago, and he reiterated in appearances here that the United States would stand by the Ukrainian government as seeks to contain ethnic unrest in the east. Biden is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Ukraine since Russia’s move into Crimea two months ago, and he reiterated in appearances there that the United States would stand by the Ukrainian government as seeks to contain ethnic unrest in the east.
A U.S.-brokered agreement between Ukraine and Russia to de-escalate those tensions was reached last week in Geneva. But so far U.S. and Ukrainian officials say little has been done to corral the pro-Russian groups in the Donetsk region.A U.S.-brokered agreement between Ukraine and Russia to de-escalate those tensions was reached last week in Geneva. But so far U.S. and Ukrainian officials say little has been done to corral the pro-Russian groups in the Donetsk region.
“It’s time for Russia to stop talking and start acting — act on the commitments they made,” Biden said. He demanded that Russia urge the groups to vacate the government buildings they have occupied and send representatives to work with international monitors in the volatile region.“It’s time for Russia to stop talking and start acting — act on the commitments they made,” Biden said. He demanded that Russia urge the groups to vacate the government buildings they have occupied and send representatives to work with international monitors in the volatile region.
“We need to see these concrete steps, and we need to see them without delay,” Biden said. “We will not allow this to be an open-ended process.”“We need to see these concrete steps, and we need to see them without delay,” Biden said. “We will not allow this to be an open-ended process.”
Before departing, Biden stopped at the eight-century-old St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery in Kiev’s old town. The monastery sits a few blocks above the Maidan, the square that demonstrators have occupied since November in a show of protest against government corruption and Russian influence.Before departing, Biden stopped at the eight-century-old St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery in Kiev’s old town. The monastery sits a few blocks above the Maidan, the square that demonstrators have occupied since November in a show of protest against government corruption and Russian influence.
When Ukrainian security forces entered the square in February, hundreds of demonstrators, many of them students, were injured and others killed. The monastery served as a sanctuary for the wounded.When Ukrainian security forces entered the square in February, hundreds of demonstrators, many of them students, were injured and others killed. The monastery served as a sanctuary for the wounded.
Today a makeshift shrine of plywood, tire, and tarps, topped by the flags of Ukraine, Britain, the United States and other nations, stands in front of the graceful pale-blue church in their honor. Today a makeshift shrine of plywood, tire and tarps, topped by the flags of Ukraine, Britain, the United States and other nations, stands in front of the graceful pale-blue church in their honor.
Wilson reported from Kiev.