Paula Dobriansky: The United States should play the leading role in supporting Ukraine

The United States of America having strategic partnership with Ukraine should play the leading role in providing and ensuring the support to the Ukrainian state, which has faced aggression from Russia, said Paula Dobriansky, the former Deputy Secretary of State (2001-2009) during a video inclusion at the 8th Kyiv Security Forum organized bythe Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation. 

“The US has very good relations with Ukraine. Ukraine is important indeed. We have a strategic partnership with Ukraine. And so we must lead the process of providing support to Ukraine. Both geopolitically and geographically Ukraine is very important,” – she said.

According to P.Dobryanski the support from the international community must be a key issue in the Ukraine’s struggle against the aggressor, since the crisis in Ukraine “has consequences not only for Ukraine but for the region and the whole world”.

“We know that Ukraine’s future largely depends on the economic growth, political unity, as well as on the international support that will enable Ukraine to repel the aggression and shall give the ability to combat corruption. We also know that there can be no security without values” – she said.

She also pointed out that the crisis in Ukraine once again stressed that the end of the ‘cold’ war, “which was marked by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the creation of new European institutions has not made Europe safe from possible new challenges”.

Former US Assistant Secretary stressed the extreme importance of making coherent policy, “which will enable Ukraine to follow its chosen path”.

She also pointed out that the Ukrainian authorities showed great effectiveness in solving problems: “We know that Ukraine is successfully implementing reforms, reviving the economy, fighting corruption and still has to deal with aggression in the east”.

For your information: 

The annual international event ‘Kyiv Security Forum’, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation in 2007 is aplatform to discuss the most pressing issues concerning the security in Europe and the Black Sea region. The Forum is aimed at promoting security cooperation between the European Union and the Black Sea Region, raising awareness of the development of security among key players and strengthening the role of independent and non-governmental actors in solving security problems in Europe.