As an eastern European leader defying Russian President Putin, Poroshenko enjoyed a gushing reception on Capitol Hill, as he fired off a combative address to both chambers of Congress.
The White House, meanwhile, geared up to toast the Ukrainian chocolate tycoon turned president.
Poroshenko was to hold White House talks with President Barack Obama
My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it...
that officials said were meant to send a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin
...Second and fourth President and sixth of the Russian Federation and the first to remain sober. Putin is credited with bringing political stability and re-establishing something like the rule of law, which occasionally results in somebody dropping dead from polonium poisoning. Under Putin, a new group of business magnates controlling significant swathes of Russia's economy has emerged, all of whom have close personal ties to Putin. The old bunch, without close personal ties to Putin, are in jail or in exile or dead....
"Maybe the picture of President Poroshenko sitting in the Oval Office will be worth at least a thousand words, both in English and in Russian," said White House front man Josh Earnest.
There were clear signs in Ukraine that Russia was taking a close interest in the talks. The Ukrainian government accused Moscow of massing 4,000 troops on border of Ukraine and annexed Crimea.