You're reading: Former U.S. ambassador: Ukraine to make progress irrespective of election outcome

Ukraine's leaders will stick to the principles of independence and will continue policies aimed at bringing about a rapprochement with the European Union and NATO, irrespective of the outcome of the 2010 presidential elections, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor has said.

He said he doesn’t worry that Ukraine will choose a different, unexpected path, as the key strategic, political and economic objectives of principal presidential candidates are the same, the ambassador said at a conference entitled "Ukraine: Opportunities and Challenges" organized by the Ukrainian Foundation for Effective Governance (FEG) together with the Financial Times in New York on Tuesday.

Taylor noted that some candidates focus on cooperation with Russia, while others put more stress on cooperation with the EU. But all of them are united in their unwillingness to give up the foundations of Ukraine’s independence, he added.

That is why, irrespective of the election outcome, Ukraine will make progress in economic and political reforms, the former ambassador said, adding that this could spur interest investors’ interest.

Ukraine has accumulated positive experience in holding elections since 2004 and many politicians have realized that they can succeed while participating in transparent and fair elections, the ex-ambassador said.