Days after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s comments concerning the Russian-Ukraine battle got here to gentle, the UCP chief has issued an apology.
In an announcement posted to Twitter on Tuesday, Smith mentioned she is “reaffirming her condemnation” of the invasion and provided an apology for past comments.
“I categorically condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the indescribable struggling Russia has and nonetheless is inflicting on the Ukrainian folks,” the premier wrote.
“Prior to re-entering politics earlier this yr, I made some unwell knowledgeable comments on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. My information and opinion of this matter have drastically developed since that point, and I apologize for these earlier comments.”
Today, I’m reaffirming my condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and providing my full apology for past comments. <a href=”https://t.co/bCpwiRV5Dz”>pic.twitter.com/bCpwiRV5Dz</a>
—@ABDanielleSmith
The past remarks surfaced over the weekend after a contract journalist printed comments Smith made on social media platforms earlier than her finally profitable bid to turn out to be chief of the United Conservative Party and premier.
On a livestream chat on April 29, Smith mentioned: “The solely reply for Ukraine is neutrality,” including she understands why Russia would have a priority with a western-aligned Ukraine armed with nuclear weapons on its doorstep. Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons within the Nineties.
In a Feb. 24 publish, she mentioned: “I’ve learn that two areas of Ukraine really feel extra affinity to Russia. Should nations be allowed to interrupt away and govern themselves independently? If that is actually what folks need, then I believe so. But is that what the folks need — or is it propaganda?”
On Monday, Opposition critic Sarah Hoffman mentioned it was “tone deaf” and “heartless” for Smith to induce Ukraine to simply accept neutrality, at the same time as its folks have been preventing and dying within the Russian invasion and referred to as for an apology from the premier.
Smith wrote Tuesday that her workplace is reaching out to Alberta’s Ukrainian group leaders to take steps towards serving to refugees settle into communities throughout Alberta.
“I stand with Ukraine and the Ukrainian folks,” she wrote.