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| Ukraine crisis: President Poroshenko in key US visit | Ukraine crisis: President Poroshenko in key US visit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is addressing a joint session of the US Congress during a key visit to Washington. | |
| He is seeking further support to tackle what he describes as Russian aggression. | |
| Ukraine accuses Russia of supporting rebels in the east of the country, but Moscow denies this. | Ukraine accuses Russia of supporting rebels in the east of the country, but Moscow denies this. |
| Mr Poroshenko earlier held talks at the state department in Washington with Secretary of State John Kerry. | |
| More than 3,000 people have died in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions since April. | More than 3,000 people have died in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions since April. |
| A fragile ceasefire agreed on 5 September is holding, despite accusations of shelling by both sides. | A fragile ceasefire agreed on 5 September is holding, despite accusations of shelling by both sides. |
| On Tuesday, Ukraine's MPs approved a bill granting self-rule to parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - a move described as "capitulation" by some lawmakers. | On Tuesday, Ukraine's MPs approved a bill granting self-rule to parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - a move described as "capitulation" by some lawmakers. |
| The unrest in the east followed Russia's annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in March. | The unrest in the east followed Russia's annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in March. |
| Putin 'threat to EU' | Putin 'threat to EU' |
| The EU has refused to comment on a report that Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly threatened that he could send troops not only to Kiev but also to several EU capitals in Eastern Europe "within two days". | The EU has refused to comment on a report that Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly threatened that he could send troops not only to Kiev but also to several EU capitals in Eastern Europe "within two days". |
| Mr Putin allegedly mentioned the Baltic cities of Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn, as well as Warsaw (Poland) and Bucharest (Romania). These countries are Nato members. | |
| Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung says it has a leaked document showing that Mr Putin made the threat to Mr Poroshenko, and the Ukrainian leader then passed on the comments to EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso at the weekend in Kiev. | Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung says it has a leaked document showing that Mr Putin made the threat to Mr Poroshenko, and the Ukrainian leader then passed on the comments to EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso at the weekend in Kiev. |
| The document is an internal report by the EU's External Action Service, the paper says. | The document is an internal report by the EU's External Action Service, the paper says. |
| When asked to comment at a news briefing, the EU Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde said: "We will not conduct diplomacy via the media or discuss extracts of our confidential conversations. | When asked to comment at a news briefing, the EU Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde said: "We will not conduct diplomacy via the media or discuss extracts of our confidential conversations. |
| "What matters to the European Union and to the Commission is creating lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine. We have indeed seen those reports." She neither confirmed nor denied the veracity of the quotes. | "What matters to the European Union and to the Commission is creating lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine. We have indeed seen those reports." She neither confirmed nor denied the veracity of the quotes. |
| On 1 September Mr Putin was quoted as telling Mr Barroso that he could "take Kiev in two weeks". The comments were quoted by Italy's La Repubblica newspaper. | On 1 September Mr Putin was quoted as telling Mr Barroso that he could "take Kiev in two weeks". The comments were quoted by Italy's La Repubblica newspaper. |
| Canadian support | Canadian support |
| In Washington, Mr Poroshenko will also give a speech at the influential Atlantic Council think-tank. | In Washington, Mr Poroshenko will also give a speech at the influential Atlantic Council think-tank. |
| During the state visit he is expected to push for closer political and economic ties between his former Soviet republic and the West, and seek further financial support for Ukraine's struggling economy. | During the state visit he is expected to push for closer political and economic ties between his former Soviet republic and the West, and seek further financial support for Ukraine's struggling economy. |
| Mr Poroshenko has also been pressing for military assistance from the US to help defend Ukraine. | Mr Poroshenko has also been pressing for military assistance from the US to help defend Ukraine. |
| President Obama - alongside with many other Western leaders - has condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine, but stressed that any military support would only include non-lethal equipment. | President Obama - alongside with many other Western leaders - has condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine, but stressed that any military support would only include non-lethal equipment. |
| Both the US and the EU have recently imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis. | Both the US and the EU have recently imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis. |
| Who gets the honour of addressing a joint meeting of US Congress? | Who gets the honour of addressing a joint meeting of US Congress? |
| Source: US House of Representatives History, Art & Archives | Source: US House of Representatives History, Art & Archives |
| Mr Poroshenko arrived in the US from Canada. | |
| Addressing the Canadian parliament on Wednesday, Mr Poroshenko said Ukraine had "crossed the Rubicon" by ratifying a day earlier the association and free trade agreement with the EU. | Addressing the Canadian parliament on Wednesday, Mr Poroshenko said Ukraine had "crossed the Rubicon" by ratifying a day earlier the association and free trade agreement with the EU. |
| "This was Ukraine's last 'farewell' to the Soviet Union," he said to loud cheering and applause from Canadian lawmakers. | "This was Ukraine's last 'farewell' to the Soviet Union," he said to loud cheering and applause from Canadian lawmakers. |
| The association agreement aims to bring Ukraine closer to the EU and away from Russia's sphere of influence. | The association agreement aims to bring Ukraine closer to the EU and away from Russia's sphere of influence. |
| The deal lies at the root of Ukraine's crisis. It was former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign it last November that triggered mass protests and his eventual fall from power. | The deal lies at the root of Ukraine's crisis. It was former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign it last November that triggered mass protests and his eventual fall from power. |
| Are you in eastern Ukraine? Has the recent violence affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in eastern Ukraine? Has the recent violence affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |