Ukraine: Daily Briefing – August 24, 2018, 5 PM Kyiv time

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported at 12:30 PM Kyiv time that since the beginning of the day, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded in action. In the last 24 hours, Russian-terrorist forces opened fire on Ukrainian positions on the Luhansk and Donetsk sectors of the front 42 times in total.

photo – Ukraine’s Presidential Administration

Speaking on the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko stated, “During four years of the war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine, we have preserved and strengthened the state. The nation was consolidated on the principles of country protection and patriotism. We have created a strong army with you. And with the painstaking work of our diplomats, we have provided international political and diplomatic support for the independence of Ukraine […]

            To make independence irreversible, make Ukraine great and strong, without any prospect of returning to the Russian influence zone – this is the main task of our generation. This is a task of the society and the authorities elected by it.

            We, Ukrainians, go our own way and understand that we must first of all rely on our own strengths. Use the wealth of the country in the interests of the people and the generations to come. Ukraine must firmly defend its national interests. External help is still important for us, but first of all we have to help ourselves […]

            Last four and a half years have become a truly ‘great hour’ for us, Ukrainians. We have experienced an incredible test of the war and economic crisis caused by Russian aggression. The enemy murdered thousands and thousands of Ukrainians – military and civilians; men, women, children. We were tested both for strength and fortitude. They tried to divide the people and dismember the country. They tried to block our movement to Europe. They wanted to drive the freedom-loving people back into the odious imperial stall. […]

            And we have not only survived the bad times, but also strengthened muscles. We have become stronger and more confident in our own capabilities. We have laid the foundation for our progress with clear strategic reference points for the European Union and NATO for the future decades”.

A transcript of President Poroshenko’s full remarks in Ukrainian is available here

To view US National Security Advisor John Bolton’s press conference in Kyiv, please click on image above

Reuters reported, “U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton said on Friday that U.S. sanctions against Russia would remain in place until Moscow changed its behavior. […]

            ‘The sanctions remain in force and will remain in force until the required change in Russian behavior,’ Bolton told a news conference in Kyiv.

            Bolton, who held talks earlier on Friday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, also said that Kyiv had made progress in its efforts to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), but still had work to do.

            ‘A lot depends on Ukraine fulfilling the requirements necessary to meet all of the military and political tests to be a NATO member,’ Bolton said. ‘I would say progress is being made but there is still more to accomplish,’ he added.”