Editor’s Note: As Ukraine gets set to inaugurate its sixth president by May 30, the Kyiv Post is asking Ukrainians and those with Ukrainian ancestry who live abroad to send in their pictures (mug shots) with answers to the following three questions for publication. Please keep responses brief — no more than 200 words for each answer or 600 words in all. Include contact details for verification as well as full name, occupation and country of residence. A selection of respondents will be published periodically before Volodymyr Zelenskiy is sworn in as president. Send responses/photos with the subject header “Ukrainian Voices From Abroad” to Kyiv Post chief editor Brian Bonner at [email protected]
Inna Basistova Nommesen is an interpreter, photographer and stay-at-home mother in San Diego, California.
Kyiv Post: What do you hope for most from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy?
Inna Basistova Nommesen: My biggest hope is that President Zelensky does not become the “big brother’s puppet”, and instead serves the Ukrainian people in preserving their identity and freedom from Russia. That he doesn’t undo positive changes brought by by his predecessors.
Kyiv Post: What is the No. 1 priority facing Ukraine?
Inna Basistova Nommesen: Stop Russia’s barbaric invasion and gather the West to strategically oppose Vladimir Putin’s passive-aggressive expansion of its territories. Ukraine can’t be fending for itself and protect the entire Europe from its eastern neighbor’s growing appetites. It only happens to be in its way.
Kyiv Post: What is the biggest obstacle that the new president must overcome to achieve success?
Inna Basistova Nommesen: Zelenskiy is a young talented public person with little to no hands-on experience in big politics. As he learns how to manage this beautiful country, the biggest obstacle will be to resist old school habits like corruption and serving two masters. I wish him resilience and a lot of faith as he leads Ukraine to a better future during some of the hardest times in its history.
