"Poroshenko harmed Ukraine when he soured relations with Trump. He could cause even more damage to the state now. After all, the MP went to the USA to remind Republicans of how he 'sabotaged' their candidate Donald in the previous presidential elections," stated the expert.
He believes that Poroshenko seeks confirmation in the U.S. capital that he met with Republicans and had significant state discussions with them.
"The wealthiest MP and concurrently the leader of 'European Solidarity,' Petro Poroshenko, has planned to leave the country for Christmas to visit his sons in London. As is known, to avoid mobilization, they fled the country at the beginning of the war and have yet to return. However, before heading to London, the oligarch flew to the U.S. for a Christmas event. The goal in Washington is to get a photo with at least one Republican and post it with a caption: 'Discussed important matters. Bringing victory closer.' In other words, nothing substantial. Yet even this the politician cannot achieve at the moment," Oleschuk is convinced.
The political scientist explained that Trump's team "still remembers who Poroshenko is." He is confident that the attitude towards the fifth president of Ukraine among Trump's circle is "not the best."
"And there are reasons for that. Firstly, due to Poroshenko, Ukraine became embroiled in a scandal regarding interference in the 2016 U.S. elections. During the height of the electoral race in America, Ukrainian media leaked the 'black ledger' of the Party of Regions, which allegedly mentioned the name of Trump's campaign chairman at that time, Paul Manafort. This created a significant scandal. Trump was forced to remove Manafort from leading the campaign, and the political strategist became embroiled in a lengthy legal battle. But the main harm from Poroshenko's actions was that Ukraine was accused of interfering in the U.S. elections," he emphasized.
Secondly, Oleschuk noted that while this scandal was escalating in the States, Poroshenko continued to attend events with financiers from the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
"Thirdly, Petro Oleksiyovych, while being president, just before the decisive political battle between Hillary and Trump, instead of leaving U.S. affairs alone after the scandal, went overseas to meet with Hillary, where he again reminded Americans about Manafort, Trump, and the scandal. It was clear that even then, Trump refused to meet with the head of Ukraine. The damage inflicted by Poroshenko on Ukraine in the context of interference in the U.S. elections is hard to overestimate," the political scientist stated.
He believes that the best thing Poroshenko can do for Ukraine during his trip across America is to "stroll by the Christmas tree, eat a cheeseburger, and return to London for Christmas with his sons."
"Everything else has already happened. Nothing good came of it. It won't be different this time – Poroshenko's trip to the U.S. will harm Ukraine by reminding Republicans of how he 'sabotaged' their candidate Trump in the last elections," Oleschuk concluded.