Biden meets Poroshenko in Kyiv, reassures support
These funds also will support the critical role of civil society and independent media, as well as the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission as it monitors and verifies agreements in the conflict areas of eastern Ukraine. However, he emphasised Ukraine’s government should fight corruption more actively, including conducing tax reforms in compliance with the International Monetary Fund.
“The world is watching you – this is your moment”.
More than 11 years later and two years since the start of Ukraine’s Euromaidan Revolution that eventually ousted Viktor Yanukovych, corruption remains rampant in the former Soviet republic.
Biden is expected to meet with the head of parliament Tuesday after his appearance before the lawmaking body, before departing Ukraine to return to the U.S. During her recent meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, she emphasised that visible and steady Ukrainian progress in implementing anti-corruption measures were a prerequisite for new financial assistance in the near future. “To root out the cancer of corruption“, the USA vice president said.
The U.S. has provided guarantees for $2 billion of bond sales by Ukraine’s government, helping to stabilize the hryvnia, which has lost nearly a third of its value against the dollar this year.
“You have to reform the whole prosecution and judiciary”, Biden said.
Dzhemilev says that if Russian Federation does not recognise that the territory belongs to Ukraine, and does not sign documents to that effect, the lights will go out again.
At the end of November, however, Russia and the pro-Russian separatists who control mines in eastern Ukraine began to restrict coal supplies, an embargo that analysts say had some effect on Kyiv’s thinking.
“The US will maintain pressure until Moscow fulfils its (peace deal) commitments”, he said.
On Monday, Biden announced $190 million in new USA aid to Ukraine.
Vice President Biden is heading to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday to reassure the nation of US support against Russian aggression.
He recalled the sacrifices of the Euromaidan Revolution, during which more than 100 activists were killed and hundreds more wounded.
It also documented “enforced disappearance, arbitrary and incommunicado detention as well as torture and ill treatment of people” suspected of joining or supporting separatist militia, and noted the “high degree of impunity” enjoyed by elements of Ukraine’s security services in such cases.
Disagreements between the government and parliament are stoking concerns that Ukraine could stumble in its reform drive.