John E. Herbst: Why I’m optimistic about Ukraine’s new government By John E. Herbst . Published April 21, 2016 at 10:01 am Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (R) greets newly appointed Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman at the parliament in Kiev on April 14, 2016. Photo by Volodymyr Petrov The past two months have not been favorable for Ukraine’s image in the West. Read more.