- Title: Ukraine says hopes for continued support against Russia from U.S. under Trump
- Date: 9th November 2016
- Summary: SCULPTURE OF ARCHANGEL MICHAEL WOMEN HOLDING PIGEONS TAKING SELFIE INDEPENDENCE SQUARE
- Embargoed: 24th November 2016 14:08
- Keywords: Ukraine United States Donald Trump election Petro Poroshenko
- Location: KIEV, UKRAINE
- City: KIEV, UKRAINE
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00457Q5E13
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Wednesday (November 9) he hoped the United States would continue to support Ukraine in its stand-off with Russia following the victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election.
"(I want to use this opportunity to sincerely) congratulate Donald Trump for being elected as president of the United States of America and the friendly American people for the really democratic expression. I think this is a symbol of real democracy when nobody knows what would be the results of the election until the very last moment of the counting of the votes," Poroshenko told U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch during a meeting in Kiev.
"We are absolutely sure that that (cooperation) will continue in two very important spheres - in our fight against Russian aggression, in our fight for freedom, fight for democracy, fight for our sovereignty and territorial integrity, where the United States was and remains our reliable partner. And we also count on the continuation of the very strong support in our decisive steps in reform of the country," he said.
Republican Donald Trump stunned the world by defeating heavily favored rival Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's (November 8) presidential election, ending eight years of Democratic rule and sending the United States on a new, uncertain path.
A wealthy real estate developer and former reality TV host, Trump rode a wave of anger toward Washington insiders to win the White House race against Clinton, the Democratic candidate whose gold-plated establishment resume included stints as a first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state.
Trump has promised to warm relations with Russia that have chilled under President Barack Obama over Russian President Vladimir Putin's intervention in the Syrian civil war and his seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region.
Ukrainians voiced concern the newly-elected U.S. leader would favour relations with Russia over embattled Ukraine.
"If he managed to hide from paying taxes even in the U.S. - he did not pay them - it means he is already a bandit for his own country. Moreover, he gives preference to Russia and in fact does not recognise Ukraine as a sovereign country. That's all. He will talk to (Vladimir) Putin and Ukraine doesn't mean anything to him. This is the most terrifying thing," said Kiev resident Volodymyr Nazarenko.
"He is an unpredictable person and don't deceive yourself that we (will be partners) with America. He is not like the previous president who was wisely fluctuating from here to there and back. Trump knows which way he is going if he has today warned Putin that in the nearest future his first visit will be to Moscow," said another local resident, Viktor Zhenchenko.
Russia is hoping that improved relations with the U.S. under Trump could yield an elusive prize: the lifting or easing of sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union to punish Moscow for its 2014 annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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