“I leave encouraged they can not only just hold the line, but they have resolve to ultimately prevail and put their country back together,” Portman said.
Portman got as far as the line separating Ukrainian forces from Russian-backed separatists in Eastern Ukraine. At one point, the Russians fired artillery not far from where Portman was meeting with soldiers from a Ukrainian brigade.
As part of my trip, yesterday I traveled to see #Ukrainian soldiers at a forward combat outpost near the line of contact in Donetsk. It was invaluable to see their efforts first hand. pic.twitter.com/sAsJiXld7Q
— Rob Portman (@senrobportman) April 5, 2018
“It was very noisy,” Portman said with a laugh, adding it was “only a reminder of the fact that this is a hot war.”
Portman has been a strong advocate for supplying Ukraine with weapons and other assistance to help them fight Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine who are backed by Moscow.
In March 2014, President Barack Obama imposed economic sanctions on Russia after Moscow annexed Crimea, a peninsula that was part of Ukraine. Portman sharply criticized President Donald Trump in January of 2017 when Trump hinted he might not enforce the sanctions.
Since then, Portman said, the Trump administration has been more willing to supply Ukrainian troops with advanced defensive weapons. Portman said the Ukrainians are expected to soon receive the Javelin anti-tank missile which he said “the Ukrainians have been wanting very badly.”
I’m visiting #Ukraine this week. As Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine persists, it is important to reaffirm that the United States stands firmly with Ukraine and the #Ukrainian people in their struggle to defend their independence and territorial integrity. pic.twitter.com/cmcp0f1JBh
— Rob Portman (@senrobportman) April 5, 2018
During a visit to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, Portman met with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, Defense Minister Stepan Poltarak, and other senior government officials.
Poroshenko presented Portman with the Order of Merit, a medal given to those who have worked to improve the country’s national defense, development of democracy, and human rights record.
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