There is a process of redefining Ukraine, by Ukrainians, first of all. We are somewhere
in the middle of this process.
Ukraine is in crisis. It’s been at war,
and the country itself is also facing fiscal catastrophe.
There were multiple challenges, and certainly we may divide it into external and internal.
The key to solve these challenges are at home.
The problem of corruption, this is the problem
of the whole period of Ukrainian independence.
People do not trust the legal system of the country.
Corrupt judges and their connections with
other parts of a corrupt system.
While trying to find within ourselves the
bureaucracy with trying to fight with corruption, we at the same time are still fighting another
evil, the aggressor.
If someone would’ve told five years ago
that Russia would actually seize Crimea and would be in war with Donbas [region], most of the people
would say, “No way, that’s not going to happen.”
(We would not be able to remain free and we would not be able to keep our honor and dignity.)
We are preserving what’s very important for us, the freedom of discussion and expression.
We are here fighting for democratic values. We are on the front line.
Ukrainians have to realize that what’s happening now, it’s actually fighting for their independence,
and independence has a cost.
Change needs time and effort. And the more
profound the change, the more time and effort, and this is a direct result of actually achieving
a new Ukraine.
If we say the new Ukraine, that would be the
country where the citizens take care about their role, that they do not wait any longer
for government to work instead of them. They understand that they serve the state,
not just themselves.
New Ukraine is truly impressive. There is
a new generation, and they’ve matured tremendously.
I can see around myself a lot of optimistic people, young people,
who really want to do something, who really believe in noncorrupted, new Ukraine.
It’s happening everywhere. There is so much
enthusiasm despite all the troubles.
This overwhelming understanding of the value
of participation is a great change pushing the country forward.
What we tried to do is to transform this energy into sustainable capacity of the society to
act for the sake of its own interests.
There has been a very concerted attempt to
introduce and implement European practices, trying to establish institutions that are
fair, that are equitable, and to have Ukraine be part of a kind of broader set of
European norms and practices.
We have to produce something new that would
be built on the values we share with the West.
The new Ukraine is actually an attempt to
recapture the original idea of the European Union.
I think it is potentially a turning point if it succeeds.
This is the fight for a new generation of Europeans.
Success in Ukraine could be an example for much more countries in our region.
And in this sense we have to fulfill this obligation.
If Ukraine somehow becomes adjoined to Russia, 46 million people lose an opportunity
to be part of some greater European imagination.
The new Ukraine, maybe it is a metaphor, but
very important one, because it shows us the destination point which we would like
to achieve.
Ukraine is an incredible place for innovation
right now. It’s just amazing how much you can do because there is nothing done.
We started to develop a network of unpaid legal centers to consultate people on their rights.
It added dignity for people. They could realize his or her own civic rights.
This phenomena, this energy of Euromaidan, hundreds and thousands of people, ordinary people,
united in different, self-organized initiatives.
(I am coordinating a large initiative, which helps refugees from Eastern Ukraine and Crimea
who had to leave their home because of the conflict.)
Our task is really to safeguard good journalism,
to check the facts and really present to the audience something real.
I think it’s my obligation right now to help my country, to help solve the situation.
To protect people in discriminated groups.
To fight corruption and to change economic situation.
To find out how we can make sure that Ukraine is being heard.
These dramatic times give us, as Ukrainians,
a chance to create a state function without any help of state.
It’s a great phenomenon, and I think that it’s our chance.
If you look at the current trends in the world, the space of democracy and rule of law is
shrinking. And in this case Ukrainian transformation
is vital because it may demonstrate that even under unfavorable external conditions,
there is still a chance to move open society values ahead.