Poroshenko says Ukraine will not give up Crimea...

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said in a combative inaugural speech that Ukraine would not give up Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia annexed from it in March.

"Crimea was, is, and will be Ukrainian," he said in an emotional address after his swearing-in. He was greeted with a standing ovation.

"I put that clearly to the Russian leader in Normandy," he added, referring to his meeting with President Vladimir Putin at D-Day commemorations yesterday.

He stressed the unity of Ukraine, which is fighting a pro-Russian separatist uprising in the east, and said it would not become a federalised state as advocated by Moscow.

Mr Poroshenko also said he intended very soon to sign the economic part of an association agreement with the European Union, as a first step towards full membership.......http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0607/622189-ukraine/
7/6/14
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