You're reading: Poroshenko: ‘Putin hates Ukraine deeply and sincerely’

 

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told the 53rd Munich Security Conference, under way on Feb. 17-18 in Germany that Russian President Vladimir Putin “hates Ukraine deeply and sincerely.” He also said that appeasing Russia would be “naive, wrong and dangerous.”

Poroshenko also talked by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, briefing him “on the recent escalation of the situation in Donbas and violation of the Minsk agreements by Russia.” They discussed how to counter “the ongoing Russian aggression and restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Crimea, particularly via the policy of sanctions.”

Poroshenko and Tillerson also “outlined a range of issues that need urgent attention at this stage to strengthen the strategic partnership between Kyiv and Washington.” Poroshenko invited Tillerson to visit Ukraine.

The following is the English-language transcript of Poroshenko’s statement at the 53rd Munich Security Conference.