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| Ukrainian President Sets Sights on Closer E.U. Ties | Ukrainian President Sets Sights on Closer E.U. Ties |
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| MOSCOW — Proclaiming that “the main, most dangerous part of the war is already in the past,” President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine said on Thursday that his office was in constant communication with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to sustain a truce in eastern Ukraine, and that Ukraine was now looking ahead to pursue membership in the European Union. | MOSCOW — Proclaiming that “the main, most dangerous part of the war is already in the past,” President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine said on Thursday that his office was in constant communication with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to sustain a truce in eastern Ukraine, and that Ukraine was now looking ahead to pursue membership in the European Union. |
| Speaking at a news conference in Kiev, the capital, Mr. Poroshenko said that he planned to meet with Mr. Putin within the next three weeks and expressed confidence that the cease-fire with pro-Russian rebels would hold. | Speaking at a news conference in Kiev, the capital, Mr. Poroshenko said that he planned to meet with Mr. Putin within the next three weeks and expressed confidence that the cease-fire with pro-Russian rebels would hold. |
| At the same time, Mr. Poroshenko voiced several positions certain to irk the Kremlin, which has worked aggressively to prevent Ukraine from shifting politically and economically toward Europe. He said that Ukraine would never relinquish the embattled eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, that plans to grant those regions greater autonomy would have firm limits, and that Ukraine must move as quickly as possible toward European integration. | At the same time, Mr. Poroshenko voiced several positions certain to irk the Kremlin, which has worked aggressively to prevent Ukraine from shifting politically and economically toward Europe. He said that Ukraine would never relinquish the embattled eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, that plans to grant those regions greater autonomy would have firm limits, and that Ukraine must move as quickly as possible toward European integration. |
| “The doors of the E.U. are open to us; I am absolutely convinced of this,” Mr. Poroshenko said. “Events in Kiev and Brussels gave us a firm hope, a belief, that we will soon get the prospect of E.U. membership. We have every right to knock on this door.” | “The doors of the E.U. are open to us; I am absolutely convinced of this,” Mr. Poroshenko said. “Events in Kiev and Brussels gave us a firm hope, a belief, that we will soon get the prospect of E.U. membership. We have every right to knock on this door.” |
| Earlier in the day, Mr. Poroshenko’s office said the government planned to push legislation that would repeal a 2010 law barring Ukraine from membership in any military or political alliance, a step viewed as a prelude to an application to join NATO. | Earlier in the day, Mr. Poroshenko’s office said the government planned to push legislation that would repeal a 2010 law barring Ukraine from membership in any military or political alliance, a step viewed as a prelude to an application to join NATO. |
| There was no immediate reaction to Mr. Poroshenko’s remarks from the Kremlin, though a Russian Foreign Ministry official criticized the Ukrainian government’s stated plan to close some border crossings with Russia. The Kremlin has also warned repeatedly of severe consequences should Ukraine not take Russia’s interests into account as it seeks to put into effect a new trade accord with the European Union that Ukraine ratified on Sept. 16. | There was no immediate reaction to Mr. Poroshenko’s remarks from the Kremlin, though a Russian Foreign Ministry official criticized the Ukrainian government’s stated plan to close some border crossings with Russia. The Kremlin has also warned repeatedly of severe consequences should Ukraine not take Russia’s interests into account as it seeks to put into effect a new trade accord with the European Union that Ukraine ratified on Sept. 16. |
| Fierce opposition from Russia prompted Ukraine and the European Union to postpone putting much of the accord into effect until 2016. And while the truce agreement, signed in Minsk, Belarus, on Sept. 5, has mostly held, a potentially serious dispute appeared to be emerging over when local elections would be held in southeastern Ukraine. | |
| A law passed by the Ukrainian Parliament granting “special status” to the eastern regions called for elections to be held on Dec. 7, but leaders of the separatist movement in southeastern Ukraine have declared that voting will take place on Nov. 2. | A law passed by the Ukrainian Parliament granting “special status” to the eastern regions called for elections to be held on Dec. 7, but leaders of the separatist movement in southeastern Ukraine have declared that voting will take place on Nov. 2. |
| Mr. Poroshenko’s news conference was called in large part to discuss an ambitious plan of reforms to be carried out through 2020. These include aggressive efforts to combat corruption and overhaul the economy, challenges that have hobbled Ukraine since its independence from the Soviet Union more than 20 years ago. | Mr. Poroshenko’s news conference was called in large part to discuss an ambitious plan of reforms to be carried out through 2020. These include aggressive efforts to combat corruption and overhaul the economy, challenges that have hobbled Ukraine since its independence from the Soviet Union more than 20 years ago. |
| “Yes, we cast away the tyranny, confirmed our European choice and survived the fight with the external enemy,” Mr. Poroshenko said. “But the internal challenge is just as important. Corruption, poverty and economic weakness is our biggest threat and the main weapon of the attackers.” He said there was no time to walk or crawl. “We must run, fly,” he said. | “Yes, we cast away the tyranny, confirmed our European choice and survived the fight with the external enemy,” Mr. Poroshenko said. “But the internal challenge is just as important. Corruption, poverty and economic weakness is our biggest threat and the main weapon of the attackers.” He said there was no time to walk or crawl. “We must run, fly,” he said. |
| Nearly all of the big changes will require the support of Parliament, and Mr. Poroshenko expressed confidence that a new, reform-minded group of lawmakers would come to power in national elections to be held on Oct. 26. | Nearly all of the big changes will require the support of Parliament, and Mr. Poroshenko expressed confidence that a new, reform-minded group of lawmakers would come to power in national elections to be held on Oct. 26. |
| It is still unclear, however, if the government will succeed in carrying out voting in the war-torn east. More than 3,000 people have died there since fighting began in April, and tens of thousands of people have fled the region for safety. | |
| At the news conference on Thursday, Mr. Poroshenko sought to clarify the extent of the autonomy that the government would grant to the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, which he said would be limited to a “special regime of local authorities.” | At the news conference on Thursday, Mr. Poroshenko sought to clarify the extent of the autonomy that the government would grant to the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, which he said would be limited to a “special regime of local authorities.” |
| “None of the central functions are delegated,” Mr. Poroshenko said. “Separation of this region from Ukraine is out of the question. We only have a process of decentralization. It is beginning throughout the country.” | “None of the central functions are delegated,” Mr. Poroshenko said. “Separation of this region from Ukraine is out of the question. We only have a process of decentralization. It is beginning throughout the country.” |
| The Kiev government has repeatedly emphasized the idea of “decentralization” as opposed to the concept of “federalization” favored in Moscow and among pro-Russian separatists. | The Kiev government has repeatedly emphasized the idea of “decentralization” as opposed to the concept of “federalization” favored in Moscow and among pro-Russian separatists. |
| Mr. Poroshenko said the Kremlin had underestimated Ukraine’s strength. | Mr. Poroshenko said the Kremlin had underestimated Ukraine’s strength. |
| “Some people in the Russian administration thought that Ukraine was a colossus on clay legs, and that once you push it a little, Donbass will fall apart,” he said, referring to the southeastern region of the country. “It didn’t work out.” | “Some people in the Russian administration thought that Ukraine was a colossus on clay legs, and that once you push it a little, Donbass will fall apart,” he said, referring to the southeastern region of the country. “It didn’t work out.” |
| Asked by a reporter if he was ever threatened by Mr. Putin, Mr. Poroshenko replied: “I’ll answer simply. I am not afraid of anything, and I never was. I represent a great country of strong people, and it gives me additional confidence. I can’t imagine anyone threatening me.” | Asked by a reporter if he was ever threatened by Mr. Putin, Mr. Poroshenko replied: “I’ll answer simply. I am not afraid of anything, and I never was. I represent a great country of strong people, and it gives me additional confidence. I can’t imagine anyone threatening me.” |