Poroshenko Says Worst of War in Ukraine Is Over

MOSCOW–Ukraine’s president said Thursday that the worst of the conflict with Russia-backed rebels is over and renewed
his pledges to build closer ties with the European Union, revive a moribund economy and fight corruption.

At a news conference in Kyiv, President Petro Poroshenko put a positive spin on Ukraine’s difficult situation, saying
that a fragile cease-fire signed earlier this month was taking hold and that “the main, most dangerous part of the war
is already past.”

“Today is the first day in many weeks and months that there was not a single Ukrainian killed or wounded, when the
cease-fire has finally started to work,” he said. City officials in the separatist stronghold of Donetsk reported
explosions and shelling could be heard throughout the day, however.

Mr. Poroshenko said his reform program would put Ukraine in a position to apply for EU membership in 2020. “The doors
of the EU are open to us; I’m absolutely convinced of that,” he said.

Many European officials admit, however, that such a prospect appears remote. Russia has stridently opposed the idea of
Kyiv leaving its orbit, which sparked the current conflict in eastern Ukraine.

But Mr. Poroshenko also said he would push ahead with plans for next month to repeal a 2010 law banning membership in
any political or military blocs, a move that officials in Kyiv have said could be a step toward joining the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization as well.

On Thursday, a Russian Foreign Ministry official told the official TASS news agency that Kyiv needs to “solve its
problems with Russia” before considering EU membership.

Mr. Poroshenko said he hopes to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Europe within the next three weeks, but he
didn’t provide details.

Under pressure from Russia, Mr. Poroshenko agreed this month to delay implementation of key elements of a trade-and-
cooperation deal with the EU until the end of 2015. He and EU officials have vowed not to change the terms despite
Russia’s threat to impose sweeping trade restrictions on Ukraine if Moscow’s concerns aren’t taken into account.

Mr. Putin and his economy minister, Alexei Ulyukaev, both sent letters to EU officials last week, warning that Russia
could still retaliate against Ukraine for ratifying the deal.

Separately, Kyiv agreed Sept. 5 to a Russian-brokered peace deal after the alleged intervention of the Russian
military on behalf of pro-Russia separatists.

Mr. Poroshenko reiterated that Kyiv is offering limited, local autonomy to the separatists. They have rejected his
offer of local elections in December and said they would go ahead with their own on Nov. 2.

“No one can ever put the questions of sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence up for negotiation,” Mr.
Poroshenko said. “We have only a process of decentralization that is beginning throughout the country.”

The war has knocked Ukraine’s economy into a tailspin, with a contraction of at least 7% expected this year. Mr.
Poroshenko vowed to do everything possible to stop the slide of the hryvnia, which has lost about 40% of its value this
year.

He said Ukraine would need more assistance from Western donors and that he hoped he would be able to raise at least $1
billion to rebuild the battered eastern region.

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