[Aaus-list] [Ukrainians For Obama] Arseniy Yatsenyuk media appearences - 3/12/2014

[Bohdan Besaha]

Sure thing,

Off the top of my head, Yatseniuk came off as a personable, ‘regular' guy, alluding to a wife and kids, mentioning that the conversation with Pres Obama was straightforward as he likes it and not 'diplomatically nuanced'.  Though, of course, it had to have been ‘diplomatic’, defacto.  Yatseniuk played the David of David and Goliath, which always plays well in the US.  He was careful not to lobby openly for military intervention, but plainly stated that there is no way Ukraine can survive on it’s own, fill in the blanks.  His answer on keeping Crimea’s water and fuel flowing was really poignant and allowed him to make the claim that Crimea is ours.   The wife and kids anecdote was a superb way to disarm the Russian speakers need Russian forces argument.  Altogether, he came off as other than an experienced Eastern European grim faced real-politk practitioner while keeping his answers digestible.  

If you had not heard him before, you would most likely decide you like the guy, you would say he is competent, carries his nation’s interest in his heart, and you know he is taking a massive risk that few would want and fewer would be good at.


On Mar 12, 2014, at 3:51 PM, Vadim Gorbach <solar75wind at gmail.com> wrote:

> > That was the best performance a Ukrainian official ever delivered in the West!
> 
> Would you mind me asking - Better than the "Goddess" Tymoshenko? What exactly made Yatsenyuk stand out so brightly?
> 
> 
> On Wed, Mar 12, 2014 at 5:00 PM, Bohdan Besaha <besaha1 at gmail.com> wrote:
> That was the best performance a Ukrainian official ever delivered in the West!
> 
> Amen
> 
> Also, these are heartening words from US Chairman JCS  Gen Dempsey: 
> http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/gen-dempsey-us-ready-for-military-response-to-russia-if-crimean-conflict-escalates-339144.html
> 
> Not clear on the actual level of commitment alluded to, but this is his second statement of support and it specifically mentions "backing up Ukraine”.
> 
> On Mar 12, 2014, at 1:40 PM, Max Pyziur <pyz at brama.com> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Atlantic Council: Webcast: Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk - 4pm - 5pm EDT
>> http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/events/webcasts/the-future-of-ukraine-leadership-under-siege
>> 
>> PBS Newshour is scheduled to focus on Yatsenyuk's visit - 7pm ET
>> 
>> Apologies for the duplication
>> 
>> fyi,
>> 
>> MP
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>> vote2012 at ukrainiansforobama.com
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> 
> 
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