Danielle Smith’s comments on Russia-Ukraine war ‘frightening’: Freeland
Global News
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s comments on Russia's war against Ukraine were “frightening,” according to Federal Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s comments on Russia‘s war against Ukraine were “frightening,” according to Federal Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
“I think it was deeply hurtful to Ukrainian Canadians here in Alberta,” she said Thursday in Edmonton, noting her own Ukrainian-Canadian family living in the province were also hurt by the remarks made by Smith.
Earlier this year during a livestreamed question-and-answer session on a social media site, Smith suggested the only way for the war to end was if Ukraine remained “neutral.”
“I think the only answer for Ukraine is neutrality,” she said in April, before winning the UCP leadership contest.
“There are thriving nations that have managed with neutrality.”
In a statement Tuesday, Smith apologized for the “ill-informed” comments — the day after she tried to downplay statements from her past.
“My knowledge and opinion of this matter have drastically evolved since that time, and I apologize for those previous comments,” the premier said.