The Ukrainian revolution, one year later

A conversation with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland

Event Summary

According to Victoria Nuland, US secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, it is in America’s best interests that Ukraine succeed in becoming democratic, more prosperous, more unified, and more European and beat the “cancer of corruption” that has plagued it for so long. On Wednesday, AEI’s Leon Aron discussed with Nuland key issues affecting US foreign policy in her region of focus.

Nuland first dispelled rumors circulated by Russian propaganda outlets that she was somehow orchestrating Ukrainian domestic politics, but reiterated that the United States has a keen interest in providing Ukraine with the support it needs to defend its sovereign territory, reform its economy, and progress on a path toward European integration. She added that the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, which Congress unanimously passed last week, illustrates the depth of bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.

Turning to US-Russian relations, she acknowledged the role of Western sanctions in contributing to Russia’s current economic crisis, but argued that the country’s central economic problem lies in the political regime’s failure to lessen the economy’s reliance on hydrocarbons. Finally, she stressed that the US diplomatic position toward Russia has not changed, but emphasized that if Russia were to fully implement the terms of the Minsk agreement, then sanctions could be quickly lifted. She implored Russian leadership to prioritize the well-being of its people over its imperial ambition.
–Joe Gates

Event Description

On November 21, 2013, protests erupted in Kiev’s Independence Square against then–Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to effectively block his country’s path toward European integration. One year later, Yanukovych has fled the country, and the Ukrainian people have replaced him with moderate, pro-Europe parties in the October 26 parliamentary elections. What does the future hold for the Ukrainian revolution?

Please join us at AEI for a conversation with Victoria Nuland, US assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, on what the United States should do to help consolidate and defend a Europe-bound, democratic Ukraine in the face of a severe economic crisis and the renewed threat of Russian military aggression.

We welcome you to follow the speech and comment on Twitter with #NulandatAEI.

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