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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. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has urged the US to provide military assistance to his country to counter pro-Russian eastern separatists.
He is seeking further support to tackle what he describes as Russian aggression. In an address to a joint session of Congress, he said ill-equipped young Ukrainian servicemen were fighting a "war for the free world" against Russian aggression.
Ukraine accuses Russia of supporting rebels in the east of the country, but Moscow denies this. President Obama has condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Mr Poroshenko earlier held talks at the state department in Washington with Secretary of State John Kerry. But he has said that military support will only include non-lethal equipment.
Mr Poroshenko told the joint session of Congress in Washington that Ukrainian government forces needed more equipment - both lethal and non-lethal.
"Blankets, night-vision goggles are important, but one cannot win the war with blankets," he said, to applause.
Who gets the honour of addressing a joint meeting of US Congress?
Source: US House of Representatives History, Art & Archives
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. Both the US and the European Union have recently imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis.
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. Fragile ceasefire
The unrest in the east followed Russia's annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in March. Mr Poroshenko accused Russia of being motivated by an "imperial mindset" and "nostalgia for the Soviet Union" in its annexation of Crimea in March and by supporting the separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Putin 'threat to EU' And he called on the US to give Ukraine a "special security guarantee" against Russian aggression, which he described as a threat to "global security everywhere".
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". He spoke of the risk of proxy wars, terrorism and extremist movements, and warned that "if they are not stopped now, they will cross European borders and spread throughout the globe".
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. He added: "The world simply cannot allow this kind of behaviour - values come first."
Mr Poroshenko had earlier held talks with Secretary of State John Kerry, and is due to meet President Obama later.
A fragile ceasefire in eastern Ukraine 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.
Meanwhile, the European Union has declined 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 military alliance 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. On 1 September Mr Putin was quoted by Italy's La Repubblica newspaper as telling European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso that he could "take Kiev in two weeks".
"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.
Canadian supportCanadian support
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.
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.
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?
Source: US House of Representatives History, Art & Archives
Mr Poroshenko arrived in the US from Canada.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.