Ukraine should include all resources to work with new U.S. Republican administration – Poroshenko
MP of Ukraine, leader of the party European Solidarity Petro Poroshenko in an interview on the TV channel Espreso said that by January 20 of next year Ukraine should include all resources to work with the new Republican administration of the United States. In his opinion, elected President Trump has not yet formed his final plan of action on Ukraine, and this provides an opportunity to advance our interests.
Poroshenko believes that the new Republican administration in the USA has come up with some ideas, which were developed by different members of the team (General Kellogg and several congressmen), but Trump hasn't officially approved this plan yet.
"Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. Trump heard me then," Poroshenko said.
He added that about 100 congressmen are firmly in the pro-Ukrainian position, but 90 members of Congress do not support Ukraine, and 30-40 congressmen are hesitant.
"We cannot ignore parliamentary diplomacy. And we must work... We must now pay attention to these 40 members. If the Foreign Ministry, or the President's Office, or the government need the names of these members, I will gladly share them with them," said the leader of European Solidarity.
"And if we have a majority of Republicans, not just Democrats who will support Ukraine, we have a huge chance that Ukraine's position will pass. If not, pro-Ukrainian bills will meet the fate of Biden's 24 billion proposal," the MP warned.
He also noted that Donald Trump's style is characterized by rapid decision-making with an eye on their effectiveness.
He recalled that it was under Trump that Ukraine received its first lethal weapons, electronic warfare technologies, and sanctions were first applied against companies that were building Nord Stream 2 without the approval and coordination of the EU.
Poroshenko recalled the appointment of Kurt Volker as Trump's special commissioner for the implementation of the Minsk agreements, and the instruction to Mike Pompeo to sign the Crimea Declaration, which officially recorded the U.S. position on the occupied territories.
"And we coordinated so that American diplomacy would ensure that Ukraine would not be hindered in creating a sovereign autocephalous independent church. This is all Trump," Poroshenko said.
Poroshenko believes that Trump's actions can be effective, but he needs to be convinced to do so.