Editor’s Note: This feature separates Ukraine’s friends from its enemies. The Order of Yaroslav the Wise has been given since 1995 for distinguished service to the nation. It is named after the Kyivan Rus leader from 1019-1054, when the medieval empire reached its zenith. The Order of Lenin was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union, whose demise Russian President Vladimir Putin mourns. It is named after Vladimir Lenin, whose corpse still rots on the Kremlin’s Red Square, more than 100 years after the October Revolution he led.
Ukraine’s Friend of the Week: John Whittingdale, U.K. Member of Parliament
Ukraine needs reliable European allies who support its reforms and aid it with improving its governance and reforming its judiciary.
But it also needs strong partners, who are willing and capable of confronting Russia and its allies on the international stage — at the G7, in the United Nations Security Council and the Council of Europe — and who are willing to stand with Ukraine in solidarity as it continues to face overt and covert aggression from the Kremlin on a near daily basis.
In Europe, the small but stoic Baltic states are solid. Sweden is also a reliable and strong friend, while Poland is, for the most part, dependable in standing firm with its Ukrainian neighbor.
France, Germany and Austria are outwardly supportive of Ukraine but are somewhat compromised by the much-criticized Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which will pump Russian energy (and influence) into the very heart of the European continent. Italy is, for now, completely unreliable.
The United Kingdom, even though it is leaving the European Union, is still arguably Ukraine’s most important (and most powerful) ally in Europe, partly thanks to the committed lawmakers and diplomats who tirelessly built that relationship and ensured that Ukraine remains a priority partner for the U.K.
In ensuring that Ukraine (and Ukrainians) remain a constant priority for London, and in building that strong bilateral partnership, one member of parliament and former secretary of state stands out above the others: John Whittingdale.
Currently chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine in the U.K. House of Commons, Whittingdale, who is a frequent visitor to Ukraine and regular observer of Ukrainian elections, has been a committed advocate for the country for his entire parliamentary career, which began in 1992, a year after Ukrainian independence.
And today, the proof is in the pudding: the U.K. provides an extensive amount of practical support to Ukraine. It currently spends about 35 million pounds, or about $45 million, each year on some 70 different projects throughout the country. British influence, funding and expertise can be found everywhere in Ukraine — in areas ranging from military support, good governance, law enforcement and judicial reform to humanitarian aid and the promotion of education, culture and social inclusion.
While Whittingdale definitely stands out as a champion for Kyiv in Westminster, regularly engaging the U.K. prime minister of the day and various government ministers on issues related to Ukraine and Russian aggression, he is not alone.
On Aug. 23, Zelensky awarded four U.K. politicians with the Ukrainian Order of Merit for their “outstanding achievements” in promoting bilateral relations between Britain and Ukraine. They were Pauline Latham, Mick Antoniw, Stewart McDonald and John Whittingdale. There are even more who are deserving of such recognition, such as Sir Michael Fallon, Mark Pritchard, Bob Seely and Sir Roger Gale, to name a few.
But when it comes to Ukrainian supporters in Westminster, Whittingdale leads the pack. On Sept. 3, amid the swirling chaos of Brexit, Whittingdale was once again on his feet in the U.K. parliament to put yet another question to the prime minister (for now, Boris Johnson) about how Britain would oppose Russia rejoining the G7 group of nations.
For his indefatigable, stalwart support of Ukraine and his obvious affection for and commitment to the Ukrainain people, John Whittingdale is a true friend to the country and is deserving of (finally) receiving our Order of Yaroslav the Wise.
Ukraine’s Foe of the Week: Du Wei, Chinese ambassador to Ukraine
When it comes to building Ukraine’s future and, in many cases, rebuilding parts of the country itself, we are not convinced that China is the right partner.
Ukraine’s future is in Europe and integrated with the Euro-Atlantic alliance, not deeply entangled in yet another Communist autocracy that enslaves its people and occupies and brutalizes its neighbors.
More broadly, there are plenty of reasons to suspect that China (a vital, strategic partner and military ally to the dictator in Russia) cannot be trusted when it comes to Ukraine’s security and territorial integrity.
Plenty of countries around the world, especially in South and Southeast Asia but also in Central Asia, Africa and South America, are starting to realize that low-interest Chinese loans or investments actually come with a far larger price tag than was initially expected.
Last year, a senior advisor to former Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman spoke bullishly with this journalist about Chinese investments into Ukrainian infrastructure: “If China wants to come here and improve our ports and railways and build our roads, why would we stop them?”
There are plenty of people in Pakistan, Malaysia, Cambodia and other countries waking up to the downsides of the controversial Belt and Road Initiative who can explain why Chinese investment should be treated with extreme caution.
Experts, lawmakers and Ukraine’s NATO allies have already expressed strong concern and opposition to the attempted Chinese takeover of the Motor Sich aerospace company — which appears to be vital to an ongoing Sino-Russian next generation military helicopter project.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine, Du Wei, for his part claims to have little knowledge of the details of this deal. But we at the Kyiv Post think he is not being entirely honest. We know that he has attended at least some of the previous talks in Kyiv, alongside former trade minister Stepan Kubiv and executives from Beijing Skyrizon Aviation, the state-owned company attempting to buy Motor Sich.
This deal would likely help the Chinese air force significantly improve its warplanes. It poses a threat to Ukraine, Europe, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and NATO, and it must be stopped.
Beijing’s investments in Ukraine are significant, but the broader picture is one of China’s deep push into all of Europe, where it is investing heavily in every country from Bulgaria to Norway.
In the last 10 years, experts say that Chinese companies have invested at least $318 billion into Europe, representing a relentless and concerning advance on the continent, which would be made even easier with improved access through Ukraine.
China claims to be somewhat neutral in Russian-Ukrainian war, which has claimed more than 13,000 lives. But it has certainly been no friend to Ukraine. In fact, unlike Japan, China has not only refused to adopt Western sanctions against the Kremlin, but significantly increased its trade with Moscow, partially negating their intended effect.
At the end of the day, China is a brutal, Communist regime which violently represses, tortures and executes its own people. It is tightening its chokehold on the semi-autonomous region of Hong Kong, slowly colonizing parts of Asia, threatening Taiwan and Japan and, in Tibet and Xinjiang, it is relentlessly persecuting native minority groups.
China and Russia are two sides of a rusted, rotten coin, the preeminent anti-democratic forces of this century and Du Wei represents Beijing here in Kyiv. He is no friend to Ukraine and deserving of the Order of Lenin, a real award which was the highest decoration bestowed by officials of the Soviet Union.
Read also: Authorities probe Motor Sich’s alleged ‘financing of terrorism’
