When it comes to rising to the occasion at important events, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has excelled since becoming president on June 7, 2014, through the rightness of his country’s message and, undoubtedly, because of the talents of his speechwriters.
The latest example came during Poroshenko’s speech to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 26. For too long, the world has been asleep to the threat posed by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s gangster state.
Instead of putting an end to the Kremlin dictator’s destruction, appeasement has been the response of much of the world.
This weakness has only whetted Putin’s appetite.
One excerpt: “Ukraine made a sovereign decision to live its way and promote the Free World based on democratic values and rules. Russia punishes Ukraine for this decision. It kills. It ruins homes. It lies on industrial scale. It pretends that Ukraine, as well as Georgia ‘attacked themselves.’ Do we know which neighbor of Russia will ‘attack itself’ next? Or will the world be ‘comfortably numb’ in a hope that ‘the next one won’t be me’?
As we defend Ukraine’s land and our free choice, as we counter the resurging neo-imperialist power willing to divide the world anew – we defend the Free World.”
And: “Nothing will stop Moscow from continuing its aggressive expansionist policies if it does not face a united stand of the international community, if punishment for its actions does not become inevitable
. It is due to the lack of relevant punishment that after Georgia came Ukraine, that after (Alexander) Litvinenko came Skripals, that after Aleppo came Idlib (in Syria)…
The Kremlin has no intention to stop.” Poroshenko’s moral call for international leadership against the Kremlin’s murderous ways and subversion of democratic nations should be joined by freedom-loving people everywhere.
His pitch, however, would be more persuasive if the president showed that Ukraine is leading by example. Unfortunately, Ukraine’s corrupt elite don’t match the nobility of the president’s words or actions at home or the noble sacrifice of its soliders and citizens.
