Obama promises support to Ukraine president-elect
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
04.06.2014 14:00
President Barack Obama had talks with Ukraine's president-elect Petro Poroshenko in Warsaw, Wednesday morning, before taking part in 25 years of freedom celebrations in the Polish capital.
Barack Obama with Ukraine president-elect Petro Poroshenko is Warsaw, Wednesday morning: photo - PAP/Radek Turczyk
Before the first meeting between Barack Obama and Petro Poroshenko since he won the presidential elections in Ukraine on 25 May, the US president said that, "I want to hear from him what he thinks [what help the US can give] would be most helpful.”
Ukraine is currently struggling to pay off its gas debts with Russia's Gazprom, which has threatened to cut off supplies.
On Tuesday, Ukraine's president-elect met with US secretary of state John Kerry in Warsaw.
“He won everywhere, and clearly has been given a mandate to try to lead the country into a new era,” Kerry said.
The trip to Warsaw is the first abroad since Poroshenko was elected in the first round of elections with a clear majority.
President Obama is currently on a three-nation tour of Europe, and will be attending a G7 summit in Brussels and WWII anniversary celebrations in France. (pg)