Ukrainians have chosen a new president who is moving quickly to replace Petro Poroshenko’s era with his own. Some of it is confusing. Speed is of the essence. Moscow’s business is to turn confusion into chaos and take over.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s inaugural message was pro-Ukraine: end the war on Ukraine’s terms, advance with European and NATO integration, and tackle corruption. However, talk of a dangerous referendum on Donbas, questionable appointments and the return to Ukraine of former President Viktor Yanukovych officials are not welcome.
Ukrainians must ensure that Zelenskiy moves the nation forward–towards a democratic European standard– rather than back; that he’s more like Vasyl Holoborodko, his television persona than–heaven forbid—Yanukovych or even Poroshenko. Ukrainians must vigilant and protest loudly when Zelenskiy or his people sound like Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.
Yes, there’s uncertainty and reason for concern. But Ukrainians have lived through worse times, much worse, and survived: Communist dictatorship until 1991, the Kremlin’s starvation of four million Ukrainians in the 1932-33 Holodomor, Gulag exiles, persecutions, executions and the Iron Curtin to hide Moscow’s crimes.
It takes a while to emerge from such depths, creating impatience and anger with Russia’s war, corruption, the exodus of millions from the country. Ukraine’s living standards are lower than other Western countries, yet Ukrainian is freer and richer than Russia. Vladimir Putin’s Russia is stuck in yesterday’s dictatorship.
Keep shouting with indignation that Zelenskiy appointed the disgraced general of Ilovaisk as his defense minister. It’s good for Russia but bad for Ukraine. Get rid of him fast!
Shout when rats return to Ukraine to join the president’s entourage, with official protection, yet. Demand to know: Who’s in charge in Ukraine? Its president or Russia’s mafia?
Who knows? Perhaps Zelenskiy will deliver the will of the people. The early days are uncertain. Nonetheless, he wants you to give him a majority in the Verkhovna Rada on July 21. So far, his party has the strongest standing at about 40 percent. Poroshenko’s bloc —new name European Solidarity — is at 10 percent. Voice, led by the much-loved and trusted singer Volodymyr Vakarchuk, is close to the 5 percent threshold.
The pro-Russia parties are rallying around oligarchs Victor Medvedchuk and Vadim Rabinovich and their Za Zhyttya party. It’s at 10 percent. The Opposition Bloc—also pro-Russia–is at 4 percent. It remains to be seen whether ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s party Batkivshchyna– now at 7 percent– is pro-Russia or not. As the wise Patriarch Lubomyr Huzar said: there is no east or west Ukraine; there are only those who love Ukraine or not. What does Zelenskiy love?
The only thing that is clear in this: the patriots of the EuroMaidan Revolution, who sent Yanukovych to Russia in 2014. failed to create a political force which carries them from revolution to political victory in the Verkhovna Rada and then to the next election. Today, yet again, they are scrambling to build last-minute coalitions letting Zelenskiy’s unknown party take the lead.
The nation wants a patriotic, pro-Ukraine government. The polls show that Ukrainians are looking for leadership that stands for Ukraine, democratic principles, want to win against Putin’s war, bring the soldiers and the political prisoners home, and stop the corruption of officialdom. Given the alternatives, voters appear to have decided to go with Zelenskiy’s party.
Strong political parties are a sign of a mature democracy. Keep maturing. It is in everyone’s interest – except Russia’s — for Zelenskiy to be a pro-Ukraine president. The next presidential elections are only five years away. This time is needed to build a new pro-Ukraine force. It would be a great achievement if, in 2024, two pro-Ukraine parties were vying for power.
Oksana Bashuk Hepburn, former president of a consulting firm and senior policy adviser to the government of Canada, comments on global issues in the international media.
