Isabelle Dumont, the French ambassador to Ukraine since September 2015, has made cultural diplomacy one of the essential tools of her mission to foster stronger ties between France and Ukraine.
And relations are by all the available evidence indeed strengthening, with new French businesses setting up shop in Ukraine, and the community of French expats growing.
French Spring
If there is one cultural asset that France has brought to Ukraine that now symbolizes the two countries’ relationship, it is the French Spring — a festival that started 16 years ago and that continues to attract more and more attendees every year.
The event is organized by the Kyiv-based French Institute in cooperation with the French Embassy, and this year is being celebrated in 10 big cities all around the country — among them Lviv, Kharkiv and Odesa.
The ambassador admitted that, before taking office, she did not realize how important an event the French Spring was. But that changed quickly as she saw how much Ukrainians love it.
“I was impressed when I took office on Sept. 9, 2015… because even the next day most of the people I talked to would ask if I would continue with the French Spring,” Dumont told the Kyiv Post at her office on April 5.
Her answer has always been a firm “Yes,” and Dumont also decided to bring a new spirit to the yearly celebration.
Before, the French Spring was an opportunity to bring French artists to present their work in Ukraine, but the ambassador suggested using the event as a theater of cooperation between the two cultures — and she pushed for more artistic collaboration.
So this year the festival-opening show on Sofia Square in central Kyiv consisted of 50 percent of French artists, and 50 percent of Ukrainians.
Dumont says that the event’s main success is that it has done two things: first it has practically become a “national tradition,” and second it has prompted other countries to offer their own cultural events, albeit not on the same scale as the French Spring.
“A few years back, there was only one country offering something cultural in a country at war, where no other country was proposing anything,” she added.
The ambassador appreciates the rising competition, as it forces those organizing the French Spring “to renew themselves” and always strive to come up with something different.
Exporting culture
Dumont is also happy to see examples of Ukrainian culture being presented abroad — something that she favors and encourages.
“As a friend of this country, we have a role to play… and even though it is not part of my mandate, I will always continue to help bilateral relations between the two countries by promoting Ukrainian culture (abroad).”
As an example, the ambassador was keen to invite the dancers of the Ukrainian National Virsky Ballet — which performed in Paris from Dec. 5 to Dec. 8 — to her residence in Kyiv when she heard that they were performing in France.
This was exactly the type of opportunity she believes is good for developing cultural collaboration.
New French businesses
On the business front, the latest French arrival is sports retailer Decathlon — which opened its doors on March 23. And a new flight operated by French Aigle Azur that was launched on April 18 between Paris-Orly and Kyiv is another good sign for the French ambassador that the country is moving forward.
The primary factor that companies look at before entering a new market is its stability, which guarantees them some security for their investment.
“We’re not talking about the political situation,” she clarified, “But French companies have been noticing a certain stability… for even more than a year.”
She added that “no matter the results of the elections, Ukraine has a pro-European course that will be maintained,” which is reassuring for French companies that are considering if they should invest in Ukraine.
French companies entering Ukraine also contribute to the development of the industry they work in in Ukraine.
Dairy companies Danone and Lactalis, for instance, have brought a whole new way of operating, using stricter safety standards in production, which in turn has forced the Ukrainian dairy production industry in general to upgrade its know-how and practices.
Beautiful Ukraine
Even though not all French newcomers register at the embassy, the French community is definitely growing — something that does not surprise Dumont.
“The French are a people who enjoy traveling, living abroad, and do not shy away from going to a place that does not have the best reputation,” she said.
Although Ukraine may at time project the negative image of being a country that is not easy to live in, this is not in fact the case, the ambassador said.
“People usually come without the intention to stay, and maybe even for a bit of adventure, but then they realize that this is actually a nice and beautiful place.”
While being a diplomat, the French ambassador does not hide her love for Ukraine, and stresses that she sees her role as being to present a different view of the country to her compatriots.
“When I see people in France who have never been here, I always encourage them to come, because it is only a three-hour flight away from Paris,” she said.
“Some people have even realized a few projects here simply because they got a plane ticket, (came), and changed their view of Ukraine.”
