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Ukrainian president looks to make front-line visit as fragile cease-fire holds Ukrainian president makes front-line visit as fragile cease-fire holds
(about 4 hours later)
KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s military said Monday that a fragile truce was holding in the east of the country as the country’s president planned a surprise visit to the front-line port city of Mariupol. KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s president took advantage of a fragile cease-fire to tour a once-embattled port city Monday and tell backers that his forces would never yield the territory to pro-Russian rebels.
The break in hostilities came as government forces and pro-Russian rebels, who have seized territory in eastern Ukraine, regrouped after weeks of increasingly bloody fighting. Divisions about the political future of the country remain as deep as ever, however, fueling skepticism about whether cease-fire can hold. The visit to Mariupol was strong on symbolism as President Petro Poroshenko addressed workers at a metal plant from a stage decorated with Ukraine’s yellow-and-blue colors. But it also served as a message to the rebels — and their supporters in Moscow — that Ukrain’s military was prepared to defend the strategic area if the truce imposed last week unravels.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko planned to use the moment to show his support for the key industrial city of Mariupol, which only days ago looked at risk of falling to a pro-Russian advance. “This city is and will be Ukranian,’’ Poroshenko told hundreds of workers, according to the presidential Web site.
Also Monday, the European Union was readying fresh measures against Russia’s economy that were intended as a response to its actions in the Ukrainian conflict. The sanctions were expected to be approved and take effect Tuesday. Mariupol, which came under rebel shelling last week, is a key prize in the territorial showdowns in Ukraine. It occupies a strip connecting the mainland with Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in March. Mariupol’s fall to rebel control could cost Ukraine more coastline and give separatists important new footholds in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told the Vedomosti newspaper that his country would take retaliatory action if the E.U. measures were passed. One option, he said, was banning E.U. airlines from flying over Russian airspace in transit to Asia. Ukraine’s military said the truce, which took effect Friday, was generally holding. It also has allowed both sides to exchange prisoners. Poroshenko said rebel forces released 20 Ukrainian soldiers Monday.
Speaking to reporters in Kiev, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said Monday that there had been repeated violations of the ceasefire across broad parts of the restive east, including shelling near the train station in Donetsk. However, he insisted the cease-fire was holding in general, and described the attacks as sporadic and largely free of higher-grade weaponry. The break in hostilities came as government forces and rebels regrouped after weeks of increasingly bloody fighting. Divisions about the political future of the country remain as deep as ever, however, fueling skepticism about whether the cease-fire can hold.
He called the cease fire an opportunity for the Ukrainian side to negotiate the release of prisoners of war, whom he called “hostages,” as well as reinforce Ukrainian positions in the east in case the peace did not hold. Also Monday, the European Union was readying fresh measures against Russia’s economy that were intended as a response to its role in the Ukrainian conflict. The sanctions were expected to be approved and take effect Tuesday.
Lysenko declined to offer further details about a claim by a senior Ukrainian official on Sunday that five nations — the United States, Italy, Norway, Poland and France — had offered to supply weapons to Ukraine. Officials from all the countries save France quickly denied such a deal. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told the Vedomosti newspaper that his country would take retaliatory action if the E.U. measures passed. One option, he said, was banning E.U. airlines from flying over Russian airspace in transit to and from Asia.
“As soon as we get any technical assistance we will inform you,” Lysenko said. Speaking to reporters in Kiev, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said Monday that the cease-fire was repeatedly violated across broad parts of the restive east, including shelling near the train station in Donetsk. However, he insisted that the cease-fire was holding in general and described the attacks as sporadic and largely free of higher-grade weaponry.
At the same time, Poroshenko faced the growing challenge of selling the cease-fire pact to Ukrainians. Some critics believe the government, confronting overwhelming force in the east, had broadly accepted Russian terms and eastern regions could be left under Moscow’s influence. Lysenko declined to offer details about a claim by a senior Ukrainian official on Sunday that five nations — the United States, Italy, Norway, Poland and France — had offered to supply weapons to Ukraine. Officials from all the countries, except for France, denied such a deal.
The deal came together last week after a major offensive by the rebels. NATO and Ukrainian officials claim the rebels are being aided not only by Russian arms but also by Russian troops — charges that Moscow denies. “As soon as we get any technical assistance, we will inform you,” Lysenko said.
The United States, Ukraine and other nations will be conducting joint military exercises in the Black Sea this week, and Washington has already pledged $60 million in nonlethal assistance to Kiev. But the Obama administration has drawn the line at lethal assistance, and one U.S. official familiar with the situation said Sunday that despite Ukrainian claims, “our position remains the same.” At the same time, Poroshenko faced the growing challenge of selling the cease-fire pact to Ukrainians. Some critics believe that the government, confronting overwhelming force in the east, had broadly accepted Russian terms and that eastern regions could be left under Moscow’s influence.
faiola.anthony@washpost.com The deal came together last week after a major offensive by the rebels. NATO and Ukrainian officials say the rebels are being aided not only by Russian arms but also by Russian troops — charges that Moscow denies.
The United States, Ukraine and other nations will be conducting joint military exercises in the Black Sea this week, and Washington has pledged $60 million in nonlethal assistance to Kiev. But the Obama administration has drawn the line at lethal assistance, and one U.S. official familiar with the situation said Sunday that despite Ukrainian claims, “our position remains the same.”
Birnbaum reported from Moscow.Birnbaum reported from Moscow.