In the previous US President Administration Ms McKibben served as Senior Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council. She also served as Director for European Economic Affairs and EU relations and advised the President of the United States, George Bush, on foreign policy issues related to Europe and Eurasia.

Ukrainian and Eastern European experts have stated many times that one of the implications for the so called “resetting” of relations is actual recognition of the Moscow right to control the regions, which are its areas of interest – first of all the post-Soviet space. How can you comment on the statement?
First of all, just speaking from the experience of working with the Bush administration, I think, at that time our position was not really understood right [by Eastern European countries – Editor’s note]. The popular belief was that we put the states, which were under Russia’s sphere of influence, in the situation when they were forced to make a choice between the USA and Russia or the West and Russia and Europe and Russia. This was not the case. In fact, we believed it was important for these countries to be open for cooperation both with the USA and Russia. Obviously, their decision must be based on the economic benefits. We wanted to see democratic states, the states governed by market principles and the states, which, at the same time, take the advantage of natural relations: historic, economic and commercial ties. We did not aim to force the countries to make a choice between the USA and Russia. I believe that the current administration holds a similar position. Nobody forces anyone to choose between this or that country; the idea is to keep relations with both.

That is you claim that it is not the issue of mapping out the areas of influence?
I can’t second guess the meaning of the term “areas of influence” in Russia. Obviously, they admit that Russia has had long-standing relations with certain states, former Soviet republics and it will keep relations going in the future. From this perspective the area of influence is seen from the point of national historic and economic ties, which nobody wants to break and must not break. The USA has never wanted to break them ether. Is it about the areas of influence? It is, considering the availability of all these ties. Look at the families in which someone lives in Russia and someone in Ukraine. Can we understand this as an area of influence? Probably, yes. However, the American government has never forced other countries to choose their historic or economic partners or new partners, whether it must be the USA, EU or someone else.

What is the point of the US-Russia relations reset?
It is clear that the conflict between the USA and Russia was, first of all, in the area of security and politics. I think that to “reset” relations means a possibility to overcome the previous conflicts, in the context of which people perceive the relations between the USA and Georgia and Ukraine and to try to focus on possible cooperation. It does not mean the cooperation with the previous administration was not interesting. Of course, we were looking for areas of cooperation with Russia. Still, I can appreciate how the new administration came to power and said: “Listen, we understand that even today the conflicts we’ve had remain complex”. I think that the purpose of a “reset” in relations was to focus efforts and start moving forward leaving all previous conflicts and disputes behind us. I think any new administration must say: “Let’s improve relations with Russia or any other European, Asian or African country”.

What is the position and role of Ukraine in foreign policy of the current US administration?
Ukraine has always been seen as a bridge. We can’t deny that fact considering historic, economic and commercial ties between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine has always been seen as a country, which could play the role of a bridge between the West (USA, EU) and Russia because of its unique location.

As cheese in a sandwich?
Exactly, as cheese in a sandwich.

Is it squeezed the same way?
No, it is not squeezed. After all, the filling in a sandwich is no less important than bread. Ukraine has a unique opportunity to show that you can have positive relations both with Russia and the USA or EU. We must not face the necessity of making choices and this has always been the key issue