Poroshenko urges Washington to supply Ukraine with weapons
Since 2014, nearly 10,000 people have been killed in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including over 2,700 military personnel. On March 31, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko provided this data in Washington during a speech at the forum “Ukraine's Battle for Freedom Continues” at the US Capitol Building.
According to Poroshenko, the number of people killed due to the conflict in the Donbas exceeds the military losses of the US in Afghanistan over 15 years. "1.8 million people have lost their homes in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and had to move to other regions of Ukraine. Seven percent of Ukrainian territory has been occupied and twenty percent of the economy has been destroyed," Poroshenko emphasized, quoted by the Interfax -Ukraine agency.
The Ukrainian President added that he does not see any reason why the international community does not want to supply weapons to the Ukrainian Army. "I have never been able to explain to my fellow citizens and myself the unwillingness of the international community to supply weapons for Ukrainian people and regular army which holds the line of defense from attacks on an international order," Poroshenko said. He added that, in this situation, partners have to help Ukraine as an investment in international security and stability.
With regard to the actions of Ukraine, concerning the settlement of the conflict in the Donbas and the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, the Ukrainian President emphasized that it is possible under specific conditions. "We are interested in unblocking the political process and holding local elections in the Donbas. These elections are only possible under specific conditions," the President said. Such conditions include the improvement of the situation with security, the launch of the police mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to place control over Ukrainian borders.
Poroshenko believes it is possible to find a way out of the internal political crisis in the Ukraine by the end of the week.
He expressed hope that the Parliament will be able to get the country out of their crisis. "I insist on clear principles of the formation of the government and coalition," Poroshenko said.