Ukraine has come a long way since acquiring independence in 1991.
Over the 29 years, the country has had six presidents, has undergone three revolutions and suffered the Kremlin’s annexation of Crimea and Russia’s war in the Donbas. It has fought for democracy and freedom within its borders, resisting autocracy, and it keeps defending its independence from aggression from outside.
But there’s an even longer path ahead on the way to becoming a prosperous country, where the rule of law is not questioned.
The Kyiv Post asked some of the most prominent Ukrainians about which of the country’s achievements they consider to be the greatest and what both the authorities and the society have to focus on next to reach the common Ukrainian dream.
Yaroslav Hrytsak
historian, professor at the Ukrainian Catholic University
First of all, knowing the history of Ukraine and other countries that were independent, independence itself for almost 30 years is an achievement. Considering the crises that Ukraine went through, the external threats, including Russian aggression, 30 years of independence is an achievement, a record.
The second achievement is that Ukraine resisted the temptation of authoritarianism. There were two big temptations, both connect-ed to (former President Viktor) Yanukovych. Now we have a temptation too, but it’s much less threatening. But the fact remains a fact: Young countries — and Ukraine is a young state — have a weakness for authoritarian regimes. Ukraine managed to resist it, and what is very important, did it on an empty stomach, meaning in not the best economic circumstances.
The third is the new generation. Whatever they say, there has been a generation change in Ukraine. This new generation doesn’t agree to live the way the old one did. It doesn’t remember the Soviet Union and wants to live normally, in other words, according to the European standards. It didn’t happen in Russia. It only might have happened in Belarus.
And the last, and maybe the most important, there is a team of reformers that emerged in Ukraine. In 1991, we had nobody to do reforms. Now we have several dozens of reformers, who have the experience of working in various governments, and who can form one or a couple of strong teams.
What are we missing? Our task is to separate politics from the economy, meaning that the path to wealth in Ukraine should not be through access to the president’s body. That is what’s called the transition to an open access system. This means building political institutions, which work for the development of the state, not for the benefit of elites. This Ukraine hasn’t achieved yet, but it keeps trying.
Nata Zhyzhchenko
musician and lead singer of the Onuka band
Speaking in the international context, we can be proud of our music and the fashion industry, which integrate with the world culture, in the context of other post-Soviet coun-tries — the freedom of speech and democracy.
Some of the biggest steps that our society should make are growing to love each other and cultivate respect for others. The task isn’t easy, but as soon as it happens, our future will seem much brighter. As for the authorities, I don’t have much hope.
Oleksandr Todorchuk
animal rights activist, co-founder of Gres Todorchuk PR public relations agency
Looking at the events happening in neighboring Belarus now, the main achievement of Ukrainians and Ukraine through all the years is the independence itself. Because we didn’t acquire it in 1991, we’ve been fighting for it with mixed results for many years, unfortunately, with blood, with victims, but Ukrainians proved that Ukraine is a truly independent state. And despite all the skepticism regarding some events that are happening in Ukraine today, I understand that we are a truly democratic country, an independent country.
Over recent years, we received an opportunity to choose, an opportunity to change something ourselves — now we need to learn how to make that choice consciously. Ukrainians have to stop voting for buckwheat, attractive posters, empty promises. And as for the changes, we have learned how to do sprinting, when we need to unite against someone quickly; now we need to learn to get through a marathon — the establishment of certain processes in the country. So far, Ukrainians have run out of breath after a couple of kilometers, started to argue with each other, and can’t bring this fight to the finish line.
Akhtem Seitablayev
film director, actor
No matter how pompous it might sound, we really do have something to be proud of. In sports, for instance, the Klitschko brothers, (Andriy) Shevchenko, the achievements of our swimmers and, especially the paralympic and youth (soccer) teams. The list goes on: a visa-free regime (with the European Union), Tomos (the creation of the unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church), the strengthening of the army, which might not have happened if it wasn’t for (Russia’s) war, which might have not happened if it wasn’t for (the annexation of) Crimea.
If all of us, the citizens of Ukraine, felt like political Ukrainians, the Kremlin leaders might not have had the basis and hope that they could count on anything at all or rely on anyone (here). This issue lies in the field of culture and education. A person who clearly knows and feels where their sky is, where their earth, history, myths, achievements and failures are, is able to analyze them and move forward, make decisions and take responsibility.
Each of us must do our best. And, of course, the authorities we elect must also be truly responsible. So that there really is the rule of law and that everyone is equal before the law, not only in terms of privileges and rights but also obligations.
Miesiąc Spotkań Autorskich 2015 (Rafal Komorowski)
Oksana Zabuzhko
writer, philosopher
Historically, the biggest achievements are the transformation of Ukrainians from an ethnic to a political category, the establishment of civil society and the establishment of a state, in which, within one generation, the sum of the degrees of individual freedom has increased by several orders of magnitude. The most vital steps in the future are putting into order the institute of citizenship (to separate citizens from residents — KP), reforming education and media.
