KIEV: President Petro Poroshenko yesterday proclaimed an end to the “most dangerous” part of Ukraine’s pro-Russian uprising and the start of a post-war recovery that would lead to an EU membership bid in 2020.
But the upbeat message was clouded by new deadly clashes and a defiant decision by guerrillas to hold independent elections on November 2 that Poroshenko said he hoped Russia would not recognise.
The pro-Western leader told the first press conference since his June inauguration that he would never let a resurgent Kremlin and gunmen entrenched in Ukraine’s eastern rust belt halt Kiev’s ambition to break out of Russia’s embrace.
“We suffered for too long in the socialist camp to let someone lower an iron curtain across our western border,” Poroshenko said in reference to Ukraine’s Soviet past. “I have no doubt that the biggest, most dangerous part of the war is already behind us thanks to the heroism of Ukrainian soldiers.”
The five-month conflict has killed more than 3,200 people and driven 650,000 from their homes across a bomb-scarred region that once served as the country’s economic driving engine.
Poroshenko showed he was determined to continue on a Westward path as he unveiled a comprehensive package of social and economic reforms, dubbed Strategy 2020, which he said “will prepare Ukraine to apply for membership in the European Union in six years”.
The plunge in relations between Moscow and Kiev came after the February ouster of a Moscow-backed leader, followed by the Kremlin’s annexation of Crimea and its alleged backing of a bloody pro-Russian revolt. An unexpected militia counter-offensive at the end of last month was only halted when Poroshenko agreed to a truce the Kremlin helped partially draft.
The plan called for rebel-held regions to hold local council elections on December 7 to help restore law and order. But separatist leaders soon objected because it gave them only limited self-rule for three years. They now plan to form their own “Supreme Soviet” parliament and elect a formal government. “I hope that neither Russia nor the rest of the world recognise elections called by self-proclaimed terrorist organisations in violation of Ukrainian law,” Poroshenko said.
Poroshenko’s revival programme includes 60 proposals to improve his country’s chances of European Union membership — a bid the wealthier European nations currently view with mistrust. The proposals include efforts to tackle rampant corruption and reform the country’s bribe-infested justice system. Poroshenko also promised to gain “energy independence” — a reference to Ukraine’s heavy reliance on Russian natural gas.
Both Kiev and its Western allies accuse Russia of supporting the rebels in eastern Ukraine by sending in elite forces and heavy weapons. Russia denies the allegations.
Ending weeks of speculation, Poroshenko yesterday ordered his government to prepare a temporary closure of the 2,000km land frontier with Russia as part of efforts to halt its “intervention” in Ukraine’s state affairs. A senior Ukrainian security source said that the border security measures would affect all road traffic and come into force “soon”.
AFP
