What should President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s first steps be?
Yuliya Bryantseva
Life sciences researcher
“The first and most important thing is that he doesn’t surrender the country to the occupants. I understand that it’s not realistic that the war will be stopped quickly. But at least there must be no betrayal of national interests. Secondly, he should continue the steady course set by the outgoing president, because I think that we’ve been moving in the right direction. And, of course, he should move on with the NATO and EU integration.”
Oleksandr Halepa
Pensioner
“Stopping the war. Increasing the standard of living and economic development. If he achieves these things, maybe that would be enough.”
Pavlo Zaslavets
Military pensioner
“One of them is signing the language law passed by the parliament today. Secondly, it is to continue the foreign policy of movement towards Europe, which is the future of the younger generation, and my grandchildren, too. And thirdly, it is to achieve peace – but not at the price of sacrificing national interests.”
Olga Klipa
Scientist
“In half a year people will get rid of him. I have no expectations of him. I currently live abroad and wanted to return to Ukraine for good. And I’m upset that 70 percent of my country are people, who … (voted in his favor). I don’t believe him, don’t believe that he can (win my trust). I don’t know his program, his team. He’s not a politician, so I don’t have any hopes of him. He won’t be able to do anything. But the people who stand behind him will do everything in their interests.”
Olha Zadyor
Pensioner
“I want life to get better. So, retired people don’t have to pick out leftovers from garbage bins, but have dignified levels of pension payments. And these are my biggest wishes: pensions sufficient to pay the bills, to take a holiday, as people in other countries do. I think things will get better. Young people will come to power. We’ve had enough of old guys sitting (in high office). The old ones have robbed us and now it’s time to give the young a chance to move up the political ladder. They will let the old people live good lives.”
Oleksandr Tsuprunov
Organic chemist
“(He should) develop the policies started by Poroshenko – I mean cooperation with NATO and the European Union. Plus, I have expectations for his team, namely, that through the parliamentary elections he brings good economists (to parliament), who can innovate. Mostly this means de-monopolization and making our economy more pro-market.”
Yaroslav Kovalchuk
Lawyer
“First of all, I expect that he’ll move the government closer to the people, through improving the Constitution by ensuring better cooperation between the executive, the legislative and the judicial branches of power. Then, he should remove immunity from members of parliament, so that everybody is equal before the law. I also expect a balanced, constructive domestic policy and guarantees of rights and freedoms, such as the right to decent standard of living.”
Stanislav Doroshenko
University lecturer
“My minimum expectation is that he does what he promised. Namely, not change course chosen (by the country earlier) regarding foreign policy. This is the main thing that worries me.”
