U.S. President Barack Obama said that America hopes that negotiations with Ukraine's officials and political opposition will lead to "some sort of democratic process that creates a government with greater legitimacy and unity." His comments came in a "virtual road trip" across the United States in which he answered questions from around the nation via video links.
The answer comes in response to a question at the six-minute mark in the video about what the United States is doing to support the anti-government EuroMaidan protests that began on Nov. 21, now with the aim of ousting President Viktor Yanukovych.
Obama speaks for 3 minutes and 30 seconds on the topic, the most extensive comments he's made publicly on Ukraine's national crisis.
President Barack Obama on Ukraine, speaking Jan. 31 in a “virtual road trip” across the United States
“We have been actively engaged in what’s been happening
in the Ukraine. Not only has our embassy and
our folks who are over there been talking to the opposition as well as the government,
but folks like Vice President (Joseph) Biden have spoken directly to President
(Viktor) Yanukovych about our belief that, No. 1, rules that restrict protests
and free speech are ultimately counterproductive and we are very much against
it.
“No. 2. There has be a way to
restructure the Ukrainian government in a way that allows the voices of the
opposition and those folks on the streets to be heard in preparation for some
sort of democratic process that creates a government with greater legitimacy
and unity. That’s going to be challenging, but we’re trying to help on the negotiations with that.
“No. 3, over the long term,
part of what’s happened here is that the people of Ukraine are clearly
looking to Europe and the West as a partner in a more free, more free-market
based economy. Obviously, they also have strong historic ties to Russia and a lot of commercial relationships with Russia and they don’t have to be sacrificed.
“I think what people of
Ukraine don’t want to see is that, and this is evidenced by what’s happening on
the street, is a situation behind closed doors in which their aspirations for a more free society and one that’s integrated with Europe more closely, that that’s foreclosed. This is just one more example of what we’ve seen around the world. It’s very hard for countries
to engage in the old-style politics that
doesn’t take into account the genuine hopes and aspirations of ordinary people.
“With the internet, and smart phones, and with Google and technology and information, people want to be part of determining their own destiny. And you can’t bottle up information in the same way that you used to. Hopefully those in power in Ukraine will recognize that and we can get this resolved peacefully. I’m always worried about the violence and, as I said, we’re engaging on a daily basis in with the Ukrainian government to make sure we can have a positive outcome.”
U.S. President Barack Obama offers his most extensive public comments to date on Ukraine’s EuroMaidan protests and how to solve the nation’s political crisis.
