As a result of the annexation of Crimea, the Russian-backed so-called "[[Donetsk People's Republic]]" and the "[[Lugansk People's Republic]]" declared their independence and created an confederation called "[[Novorossiya|Federal State of Novorossiya]]".<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20140607011548/http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_05_24/Donetsk-Lugansk-Peoples-Republics-unite-in-Novorossiya-1012/</ref> Novorossiya was dissolved in May 2015. The Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics however still exist. In June 2014 [[Petro Poroshenko]] was elected as new president of Ukraine<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/poroshenko-sworn-ukraines-president-073208251.html</ref> and [[Arseniy Yatsenyuk]] became prime minister. Since then the Ukrainian government tries to defend its territorial integrity and fights the separatist forces. In December 2017 the Trump administration approved the export of lethal small arms to Ukraine, including a multimillion-dollar sniper rifle deal – something the Obama Administration refused to do – ramping up its support for the country in the simmering conflict with Russia-backed separatists.<ref>Betz, Bradford (December 21, 2017). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/21/trump-administration-oks-sale-lethal-arms-to-ukraine.html Trump administration OKs sale of lethal arms to Ukraine]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 2, 2018.</ref> | As a result of the annexation of Crimea, the Russian-backed so-called "[[Donetsk People's Republic]]" and the "[[Lugansk People's Republic]]" declared their independence and created an confederation called "[[Novorossiya|Federal State of Novorossiya]]".<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20140607011548/http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_05_24/Donetsk-Lugansk-Peoples-Republics-unite-in-Novorossiya-1012/</ref> Novorossiya was dissolved in May 2015. The Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics however still exist. In June 2014 [[Petro Poroshenko]] was elected as new president of Ukraine<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/poroshenko-sworn-ukraines-president-073208251.html</ref> and [[Arseniy Yatsenyuk]] became prime minister. Since then the Ukrainian government tries to defend its territorial integrity and fights the separatist forces. In December 2017 the Trump administration approved the export of lethal small arms to Ukraine, including a multimillion-dollar sniper rifle deal – something the Obama Administration refused to do – ramping up its support for the country in the simmering conflict with Russia-backed separatists.<ref>Betz, Bradford (December 21, 2017). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/21/trump-administration-oks-sale-lethal-arms-to-ukraine.html Trump administration OKs sale of lethal arms to Ukraine]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 2, 2018.</ref> |