Poroshenko Speaks At Davos Ukrainian Breakfast

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko joined several other world leaders — including U.S. President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, and Canada’s Justin Trudeau — at this year’s World Economic Forum in the Swiss town of Davos, which is taking place January 23-26.

On January 25, the Ukrainian President gave a speech during the annual Ukrainian Breakfast — an event organized by oligarch Viktor Pinchuk — highlighting the country’s reform successes. His speech struck an optimistic note amid growing concerns about Ukraine’s reform process.

Poroshenko stressed improvements in the country’s financial situation. He said that Ukraine had seen more investment from abroad than ever before and that Ukraine was becoming a top emerging market. This theme tied in with another event at Davos: this year, the Forum also hosted the Ukraine House, which aims to promote Ukrainian business and investment opportunities around the world.

Investment  was not the only success story Poroshenko shared with the crowd. He also referred to what he called the “Autumn of reform,” listing a string of reforms Ukraine passed in late 2017, including pension, healthcare and education reform.

Poroshenko highlighted the fact that all of Ukraine’s accomplishments over the past twelve months had been achieved against the backdrop of Russian aggression and war. He urged the international community to support Ukraine in its fight against its aggressors, but also warned of the dangers of fake news and the hybrid war Russia is currently waging, not only against Ukraine, but the rest of the world.

In December, Ukraine’s battle with corruption came under attack from within the Ukrainian parliament, when MPs attempted to pass a bill that would give them great control over who would head anti-corruption bodies. Although the bill never passed, the parliament subsequently removed Yegor Sobolev — the head of the parliament’s Anti-Corruption Committee and an outspoken critic of President Petro Poroshenko — from office.

Earlier this week, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden stated that he is “desperately concerned about the backsliding on the part of Kyiv in terms of corruption.”