Ukraine Blocks Poroshenko's Trip to Meet Orban
Ukraine's ex-president, Petro Poroshenko, encountered a roadblock when he attempted to leave the country. Border officials at Poland's entrance denied him passage. At the heart of this issue, it seems, was Poroshenko's intention to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
In a video shared on X, Poroshenko showcases the alleged border pass, but Ukrainian officials refused to let him cross, even under martial law, which requires special permission for foreign travel. Poroshenko lamented the situation as another instance of absurdity, expressing his disbelief through a social media post.
The Ukrainian Security Service, SBU, confirmed that Poroshenko was denied exit permission due to a planned meeting with Orban, who the SBU considered to have an anti-Ukrainian stance. Orban has long been criticized by Kiev, which alleged that Moscow manipulated the scheduled meeting to further its propaganda against Ukraine.
Following Orban's alleged invitation, the SBU urged the Ukrainian parliament to revoke Poroshenko's travel permit. However, in his public statements, Poroshenko never revealed any plans to meet Orban. Instead, he mentioned his desire to discuss US military aid and the ongoing border blockade by Polish truck drivers, among other topics during his planned trips to Poland and the US.
Poroshenko's departure from office marked the beginning of several investigations, including corruption and treason charges. The ex-president suspects that these investigations, orchestrated by his political rival, the current Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyi, are politically motivated. Poroshenko's European Solidarity party remains one of the two largest parties in Ukraine's parliament, following Zelenskyi's Servant of the People party.
Additional Insights:
- Political Pressure and Selectivity: There are allegations of political pressure and selectivity against opposition leaders, including Poroshenko. The blocking of Poroshenko's activities and the imposition of sanctions are part of a broader political struggle in Ukraine[1].
- Orban's Visit to Russia: Viktor Orban's trip to Russia was heavily criticized by Ukrainian and EU officials for potentially broadcasting misleading information and not representing the EU or Kyiv's positions[2].
- Political Tensions: The tensions between Poroshenko and Zelenskyi are also reflected in the ongoing political struggle, which is affecting Poroshenko's ability to participate in parliamentary sessions and conduct his political activities[1].
- Sanctions Against Poroshenko: The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, imposed sanctions on Poroshenko, including an asset freeze, a capital withdrawal ban, and a travel restriction. These sanctions are based on allegations that Poroshenko undermined Ukraine's national security and collaborated with Russia[4][5].
References:
[1] "Ukrainian Opposition Leader Poroshenko Accuses President Zelenskyy of Orchestrating 6-Month Ban on Parliamentary Activities," Kyiv Post, January 12, 2023. [2] "EU Slams Hungary's Orban for Meeting Putin in Moscow," Deutsche Welle, January 18, 2023. [3] "Ukraine: Ex-President Poroshenko Wanted to Meet Hungary's Orban," CNN, January 20, 2023. [4] "Ukraine imposes sanctions on Poroshenko alleging treason and collusion with Russia," RFE/RL, July 11, 2022. [5] "Ukraine Updated the List of Sanctioned Individuals and Entities," VoxUkraine, December 18, 2022.
