Poroshenko issues license to kill | World News |Axisoflogic.com

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a law Aug. 18 that expands the powers of police in what the country calls the anti-terrorist operation (ATO).

“The document gives the right to law enforcers to apply without warning measures of physical effect, special means and firearms against persons who are recognized terrorists under the Law of Ukraine [called] ‘On [the] struggle against terrorism,’” a presidential statement said.

The law is intended to increase the safety level of law enforcers in the course the ATO and facilitate “more efficient fulfillment of tasks on neutralization of terrorists,” according to the president’s statement.

Poroshenko also spoke with US Vice President Joseph Biden on Aug. 16 regarding aid shipments. Poroshenko said Ukrainian humanitarian assistance had already been delivered to the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), but that safe passage had still not been secured from the separatists for the delivery of Russian aid, according to the White House.

“The two leaders agreed that Russia’s sending military columns across the border into Ukraine and its continued provision of advanced weapons to the separatists was inconsistent with any desire to improve the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine. Both leaders reaffirmed their support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis and called on Russia to enter into good faith negotiations,” the White House statement said.

According to the Ukrainian account of the same phone call, Poroshenko said that illegal entry of heavy armament and armored vehicles in Luhansk and Donetsk regions has significantly intensified recently, causing further escalation of the conflict.

“Poroshenko emphasized that the safety of civilians, particularly residents of Donetsk and Luhansk was an absolute priority in the course of the ATO,” the statement said, adding that the peace plan is the only way to establish peace in the Donbas and stability in Ukraine.

In a separate Aug. 16 phone call, Poroshenko invited German Chancellor Angela Merkel to visit Ukraine next week in order to substantively discuss issue of common interest.

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