While global issues, chiefly the economy and innovation, were the focus of Day One of the Yalta European Strategy conference Yalta European Strategy conference, the conversation on Day Two centered more around the host country, Ukraine.
The country’s Prime Minister, Mykola Azarov, began in the morning by detailing Ukraine’s challenges. Food and energy security remain central concerns for him, while he also admitted he was not satisfied with the results of measures to tackle corruption. If Ukraine is to meet these challenges it needs a committed partner.
The good news is it has two suitors: the EU to the west and the Russian-led Customs Union to the east. The less good news is that both come with baggage.
