Editor’s Note: This unusual Vox Populi takes key quotes from the recording of a luncheon about Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference, held Feb. 17-19 in Germany. Ukrainian billionaire Victor Pinchuk sponsored the event.
Chrystia Freeland, foreign minister of Canada
“The Ukrainian economy can’t thrive without security issues being resolved. But security issues are only going to be resolved if the economy can grow…Pretty good is not sufficient. Ukraine is going to have to be brilliant in reforms at a leadership level and at a society level.”
David Petraeus, retired general, ex-CIA director
“What matters most is the battle in Kyiv: can theirs be an inclusive, honest, functioning representative government that the people feel is serving them rather than those in power?”
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, former Ukrainian prime minister
“We have to stay united. We are on the right side.”
Alexander Vershbow, ex-NATO deputy general secretary
“We have to give much more support to Ukraine, politically, economically and militarIly.”
David Lipton, International Monetary Fund
“Ukraine has not traveled the road to get to a fully functioning private market economy. There’s a lot more to be done.”
Alexander Kwasniewski, ex-president of Poland
“Each success of the reforms is the best weapon we can have in our hands as an advocate of Ukraine.”
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former NATO secretary general
“The West should supply Ukrainians with the necessary military equipment so they can defend themselves.”
