Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has asked U.S. congressmen to help Ukraine, including by providing military assistance, and to impose additional sanctions on Russia, reports GHN based on Ukrinform.
He said this on Thursday at a joint session of the U.S. Congress in Washington.
"I urge America to help us and to rise and be equal to its natural and manifest role - I urge America to lead the way," Poroshenko said.
He said that Ukraine needs not only political, but also armed support. The president said that the country needs a strong modern army. "I strongly encourage the United States to give Ukraine special, non-allied partner status. I also ask that the United States be forceful and stand by its principles with respect to further sanctions against the aggressor," Poroshenko said.
At the same time, he noted a unique partnership with the United States. "In the moment of existential crisis, Ukraine's choice was the same as America's: freedom, democracy, and the rule of law," he said.
Poroshenko expressed confidence that Ukraine would protect its territory and that the country's people would never tolerate dictatorship. "We must not only win the war. We must preserve peace. We must be very strong and we will be strong because of our solidarity and because of our common interests," Poroshenko said.