Albright: Economic issues key to Ukraine conflict
Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has said that the situation in Ukraine and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has a very large economic dimension.
The former US government official, who was a special guest of the ABSL business leaders meeting in Poznań, spoke to journalists at a press conference on Friday.
Ukraine has many economic problems and will need significant help from the West, she said. Sanctions are another crucial economic question, on the part of both the targeted country and the targeting ones, she added.
“Also, what is one of the main aspects is the energy question,” Albright said. In her opinion, the way that Russia has used energy as a tool of politics has to be considered. “I think that the suggestions made by Mr Tusk are very important,” she added, referring to the Polish PM's idea of a European energy union. However, “as Mr Barroso explained, energy and environment are two signs of the same coin,” she also said.
On her way to Ukraine to observe presidential elections in the country, Albright expressed hope that the ballot would contribute to increased stability and help end the violence. “I am very hopeful that what we will see in Ukraine is a free and fair election,” she said. The future government should ensure that the Ukrainian people are heard, she added.
“There obviously are concerns about what has been going on in Eastern Ukraine. The hope is that this will not deter people from being able to vote,” Albright said.
