Groot-Brittannië blijft pal achter Oekraïne staan

Terwijl in Kyiv met de nodige argwaan richting Washington wordt gekeken hoe de nieuwe president Donald Trump zich gaat opstellen tegenover Moskou, komt vanuit Londen een een bemoedigend bericht. Groot-Brittannië blijft achter Oekraïne staan. ''Kostbare waarden als vrijheid en democratie zijn niet te verhandelen'', aldus minister Michael Fallon van Defensie in wat wordt gezien als een boodschap aan Trump dat die geen ruilhandel moet plegen met de Russische president Vladimir Poetin.

Fallon kondigt aan dat opnieuw Britse militairen naar Oekraïne gaan om daar trainingen te geven, terwijl voor het eerst in tien jaar een Brits marineschip een Oekraïense haven aan zal doen, zo meldt de krant The Telegraph. ''Wij staan pal achter Oekraïne, zoals we overal in de wereld opkomen voor democratie.''

Bron: Unian

Fallon tells Trump: Freedom cannot be traded in Ukraine – The Telegraph Britain will stand alongside Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia because freedom cannot be "traded," the Defense Secretary has said, amid fears Donald Trump may scale back support to Kyiv in a deal with Moscow, according to The Telegraph. Politics 14:07, 21 January 2017 486 READ LATER REUTERS REUTERS Sir Michael Fallon announced new British military training to Ukrainian forces battling Russian-backed separatists and said a Royal Navy warship will visit the country for the first time in a decade, The Telegraph wrote. He arrived in Kyiv for two days of talks as the U.S. election of Mr. Trump has caused alarm among Ukrainians dismayed at his apparent warmth towards Vladimir Putin. In comments likely to be seen as a message to Mr. Trump, Sir Michael said: "The values of freedom and democracy cannot be traded." "Britain is stepping up on the global stage and standing firm with our Ukrainian friends." Read also Ukraine, UK to expand cooperation: Aircraft engineering, army training "The UK is sending a clear message that we are committed to defending democracy across the world and support Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity." The remarks follow comments from Mr. Trump that he will propose an end to sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea. Mr. Trump has downplayed Russian aggression in Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine and has suggested he may recognize Moscow's claims on the peninsula. He has said he wants to improve ties with Russia, despite allegations by U.S. spy agencies that Mr. Putin ordered a cyber campaign to boost Trump's campaign against Hillary Clinton.

Read more on UNIAN: http://www.unian.info/politics/1735961-fallon-tells-trump-freedom-cannot-be-traded-in-ukraine-the-telegraph.html