Ukraine: Defense Minister exchange on the edge of a key week Ukrainian President Poroshenko Monday named his Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, previously chief of the volunteer committed against pro-Russian separatists in the east, where the search for a peaceful solution will be the focus of diplomatic meetings this crucial week. The contacts must be opened on Tuesday with a meeting in Paris between the head of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his American counterpart John Kerry. On Friday, Mr. Poroshenko must meet Putin in Milan, Italy, in the presence of European leaders to revive the peace process. The cease-fire declared on September 5 was almost constantly violated and fighting again took place on Monday in Donetsk and Mariupol, despite a semblance of calm in recent days. If his appointment is confirmed by parliament Tuesday, Stepan Poltorak, 49, will replace Valery Gueleteï, sacked on Sunday. Currently, he commanded the National Guard, formed battalions of volunteers, often from the pro-European challenge to the Maidan, working alongside the army in the east. Mr. Poroshenko praised his efforts to create from scratch the National Guard known for discipline and fighting spirit. Thanks to him, the National Guard was transferred from the state to rally volunteer battalions to the real army, said military expert Georgi Mantchoulenko. The expert believes that the appointment of Mr. Gueleteï, from the police, was a mistake and its replacement is due to the legislative approach and willingness to show that the errors are corrected. Fourth defense minister since the coming to power of the pro-Western in February, General Poltorak inherits a particularly difficult function. The army has suffered this years humiliating loss of the Crimea without a fight and failed, despite fierce fighting, to take full control of the Russian-speaking Donbass coalfield. For the Ukrainian political analyst Oleksandr Sushko, Mr. Gueleteï has been incompetent in many critical situations. It is particularly partly responsible for the tragedy of Ilovaïsk. Ukrainian forces were trapped in August in this strategic city of Donetsk region, with the key to a bloodbath: Kiev had recognized the death of 108 soldiers, but the media reported a record nearly twice as heavy. Semen Sementchenko, head of the volunteer battalion of Donbass, especially bereaved in this battle, welcomed the departure of Mr Gueleteï, an important signal that the President of Ukraine listened to his constituents. Poroshenko, elected in late May, is preparing for early parliamentary elections on October 26 that will decide the composition of Parliament in a particularly difficult period between armed conflict in the east, gas conflict with Russia and deep economic recession. Before then, important diplomatic contacts must attempt to breathe new life to the hope of peace born of the Minsk Agreement. On the eve of diplomatic appointments Paris and Milan, Moscow seems to play a de-escalation: Putin on Saturday ordered back to their bases 17,600 troops deployed to the Ukrainian border. A Ukrainian military spokesman, Andrii Lysenko also indicated that Russian regular troops on Ukrainian territory had begun to leave. Targeted by Western sanctions unprecedented, Russia is on the brink of recession and its currency, the most affected this year among the major emerging economies, fell Monday under its record low spring against the euro as the dollar . In a speech to the nation, Mr. Poroshenko warned Sunday expect tough negotiations. Nevertheless, he hoped a total cease-fire in the coming days. After the decline of heavy fighting during the weekend, the Ukrainian forces repelled a reported assault at the airport in Donetsk, where AFP reporters heard loud explosions. These soldiers also referred to the shooting Mariupol, on the shores of the Azov Sea.
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 23:35:29 +0000
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