Originally published on the CGS blog on June 13, 2014.
The inauguration of newly elected Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko this past Saturday marked an important day for Ukraine, as the country officially transitioned from its interim government. In his inaugural speech, the newly elected president vowed not to seek revenge against Russia for its contributions to the ongoing crisis, declaring instead that he would look for a peaceful way to resolve the increasingly destructive conflict. He offered amnesty to pro-Russian separatists who do not already have “blood on their hands,” with the condition that they lay down their arms at once.
President Poroshenko did not shy away from sharing his beliefs towards Ukraine’s sovereignty, however. He emphatically stated that he would defend any and all challenges to its territorial integrity, meeting them with force if the situation deemed it necessary. He declared that “Crimea belongs to Ukraine,” a statement which the predominantly pro-Ukraine crowd responded to with vigorous applause. He denounced Russia’s proposal to federalize Ukraine, adding that Ukraine will continue to remain a single state with Ukrainian as the sole official language.
Indeed, it remains to be seen whether or not the newly elected president has the necessary strength and skill to maneuver Ukraine out of one of the worst crises it has seen in decades. The new president certainly has the backing of his country–he received nearly 56 percent of the vote, but it is still unclear whether he can truly convince the dwindling number of pro-Russian separatists to bow peacefully.
What the new president will most definitely receive is the support of the United States. Vice President Biden recently announced the US will be giving an additional $48 million in government assistance to Ukraine, which has already received $73 million in security and crisis-response aid this fiscal year.
It is important that the US continues to give further aid to help support Ukraine. As a member of the UN, the US shares a role in holding Russia responsible for violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine by supporting pro-Russian separatists and amassing tens of thousands of troops at the border, which is a clear violation of the Geneva Convention. Furthermore, by continuing to support Ukraine and give aid, the US can continue to assert itself as a global leader in following international law. We can continue to show that we are committed to cooperating with countries from around the world to find viable solutions to problems that ultimately affect all of us.
Electing President Poroshenko may not lead to the immediate resolution of the Ukrainian crisis. In fact, even with his promises, it wouldn’t be nonsensical to believe that the crisis may go on for many more months, or even years, before it is truly resolved. But the establishment of a new government through a legitimate election is undoubtedly an important step in the right direction. Indeed, it is a step that, if followed by a renewed effort by countries around the world to adhere to international law, could ultimately mean peace.
