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UKRAINE THE WAY TO A QUARTER CENTURY OF INDEPENDENCE

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EDITOR’S WORD: For many centuries, the Ukrainian people fought against numerous enemies for the right to dispose of their native land and their destiny, for an independent Ukrainian state.

While becoming an independent democratic state, Ukraine entered the international community of civilized countries as its noble member. We have been recognized by more than 150 states of the world. With most of them we established diplomatic relations, economic and cultural ties.

For the quarter century of independence, the country has experienced two revolutions, five presidents, 21 governments, introduced the national currency; we had crises, both economic and political, but despite all we took our honorable place in the international arena.

The 2014 Dignity Revolution has become one of the starting points for the establishment of the Ukrainian nation.

During the year (August 24, 2016 – August 24, 2017), we celebrated 25 years of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the world. And on June 11 we celebrated the visa free regime with Europe. And so much work is still ahead. I am sure we are ready for it as never before.

I am proud to be Ukrainian.

I congratulate you on the Independence Day! Respectfully, Editor-in-Chief of «Fashion of Diplomacy in Ukraine» «Fashion of Diplomacy in Ukraine» #3 Editor-in-Chief — Anna Avramenko Head of Supervisory Council – Iryna Reznik Worked on the issue: Ihor Skrypnyk, Serhii Syvak, Olha Lambina, Alina Arhipova, Artem Shulha Literary editor — Nata German Translation of materials — Aksinia Sinko Photomaterials provided: Evhenii Zatyshnyi, and also the Google source, www.freepik.com and thenounproject.com Concerning advertising: +38 (044) 228 06 48; +38 (094) 828 06 48; +38 (093) 924 46 64 Editorial address: prosp. Stepana Bandery, 6, office 605, Kyiv info@fashion-diplomacy.com www.fashion-diplomacy.com Publisher — LLC «AMEDIA COMPANY» Print — LCC «Univest Marketing» Company Certificate of State Registration of the print media КВ № 2271212612Р as of May 30, 2017 The editorial board is not responsible for stylistics and authenticity of information contained in promotional materials.

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IN THIS ISSUE: CONGRATULATIONS ON INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY AMBASSADORS THE SUBTLETIES OF THE UKRAINIAN POLITICS, THE EXCLUSIVE CONFESSIONS OF THE PRESIDENTS OF UKRAINE

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CHARITABLE UKRAINE THROUGH THE PRISM OF THE FIRST LADIES OF THE COUNTRY

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DIPLOMATIC CALENDAR OF THE EVENTS

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CONGRATULATIONS ON THE INDEPENDENCE DAY OF UKRAINE Dear Ukrainians!

We are really glad to congratulate you on the Independence Day. More than twenty-five years passed since the proclamation of the Independence of Ukraine and during all these years our countries have bilateral diplomatic relations. But in fact, the destinies of France and Ukraine have been connected during more than one thousand years since Anna from Kyiv crossed the whole Europe to become a Queen of France. We are unified by friendly relations and we have been developing and strengthening these relations due to our progressively increasing cooperation in spite of the obstacles. This year, Ukraine has made a symbolical step. This step is connected with the visa regime liberalization concerning Schengen Area states as well as with the implementation of the Association Treaty with EU. This is the result of the colossal activity carried out by Ukraine under uneasy conditions of destabilization from Russian side. Dear friends-Ukrainians, you have shown your perseverance, strength and purposefulness. France and the European Union continue to support you as we did it before and as we are going to do in the future on the path to peace.

Long live Ukraine!

With a lot of respect, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of France in Ukraine Isabelle Dumont

On behalf of Korean people I congratulate Ukraine with the Day of the Independence. I wish peace, prosperity and new achievements for Ukrainian people on this wonderful day. Today, you have manifestaited your will to defend your borders and democratic values. The histories of our peoples share mutual milestones. I believe that your wise and productive nation will reach the hights.

We are sure of the successfulness of the Ukrainian-Korean mutual relation to the benefit of our states.

With a lot of respect, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Korea in Ukraine Li Yan-Ghu

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On behalf of the Embassy of Azerbaydjan and from me personally I want to congratulate Ukraine on the Day of Independence.

Nowadays 193 states that constitute UNO declare their independence.

It is a gear honour for every Ukrainian to see the national flag waving in UNO. Azerbaydjan regards Ukraine as a strong, wealthy and European state.

State independence is a treasure of every nation.

I think that the Day of Independence of Ukraine is a result of millenium-long struggle of Ukrainian people to have their own state.

That is why having this opportunity I congratulate all the Ukrainians on the Independence Day, wishing them welfare and porsperity.

With a lot of respect, Extraordinary and Plenipotenthiary Ambassador of Republic of Azerbaydjan in Ukraine Azer Hudayar Oglu Hudiev.

Dear Ukrainian Friends, I would like to congratulate you on the 26th anniversary of the independence of Ukraine.

Turkey and Ukraine have been enjoying friendly relations and developing bilateral and regional cooperation since the first days of Ukraine’s independence. Today, thanks to the visa and passport free regime between Turkey and Ukraine, our citizens can easily travel to each other’s country and rediscover their common cultural and historical heritage.

We aim at continuing our cooperation in every field, from trade to sports, from mines underground to space. Our relationship is one of strategies of partnership. Turkey will continue to support the territorial integrity of Ukraine as well as the democratic will of the Ukrainian people to choose their own path.

With a lot of respect, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Turkey in Ukraine YĂśnet C. Tezel #3, August 2017

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CONGRATULATIONS ON THE INDEPENDENCE DAY OF UKRAINE As Ambassador of Hungary to Ukraine, I congratulate the residents of Ukraine on the Independence Day with great love! Hungary, as a good neighbour, made a great contribution so that Ukraine adopted the Declaration of Independence in August, 1991. Hungary is the state which was one of the first to recognize the independence of Ukraine, the first country to establish diplomatic ties with independent Ukraine and the first to open its embassy in Kyiv. Today, Hungary is in solidarity with the nationalities of Ukraine and supports the choice of its European path. I wish that the peace reigns in Ukraine as soon as possible! First of all, peace and prosperity to Ukraine!

With a lot of respect, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Hungary in Ukraine Erno Keskeny, Ph.D. Distinguished Members of the Editorial Board of “Fashion of Diplomacy in Ukraine” Magazine, Dear Readers!

First of all, I would like to express my admiration and appreciation to your wonderful magazine, which highlights the events of high importance and is considered to be one of the prominent magazines in the country.

On my own behalf and on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Ukraine, I extend my warmest congratulations to the friendly Ukrainian people on the occasion of 26th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine. I wish further progress and prosperity in all fields to your country.

The 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and Ukraine is marked this year. As the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Ukraine, we are working hard to develop and strengthen these relations for the well-being of our friendly peoples in order to lay a foundation for fruitful cooperation for the benefit of the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and all peace-loving nations.

May I again offer my congratulations to you and thank your magazine for providing the opportunity to address the Ukrainian people.

Happy Independence Day! With a lot of respect, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of United Arab Emirates in Ukraine Y.V. Salma Al-Kaabi

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It is a great honour and a pleasure for me to be the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait in Ukraine.

The active exchange of the official visits between Ukraine and the State of Kuwait does not stop.The last one was the visit of the ViceMinister of the foreign affairs of the State of Kuwait, His Excellency Mr. Khalid Suleiman Al-Jarallah, during which the political consultations aimed at elaboration of the further steps in the bilateral relations between our countries were carried out.

As for me personally, Ukraine was always close to my heart.

That is why having an opportunity I want to congratulate the friendly Ukrainian people and Ukrainian leadership on the Day of Independence and to wish peace, progress and prosperity.

With a lot of Respect, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the State of Kuwait in Ukraine Rashid Hammad Al-Adwani.

First of all I want to express my sincere greetings to the political leadership of Ukraine and to friendly Ukrainian people with the 26th Anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine.

Every nation has a remarkable day in its history – the day that will shine brightly for the next generations, a day that fills the hearts of young people with proudness and respect, giving purposefulness and strength in order to build the present and the future.

The 26th Anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine is a nation-wide event that reflects the capacity of Ukrainians to resist the new challenges and difficulties, gaining the victory with their own destiny in order to achieve freedom and independence.

During my mission that has been lasting for more than 7 years I witnessed great and quick steps, made by Ukraine on the way of the constructing and development and therefore I wish steady progress and prosperity to this friendly land.

With a lot of Respect, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Ukraine Judiah Alhazal #3, August 2017

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BEFORE RELEASE

UKRAINE COULD BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN EUROPE AND EURASIA IN PEACETIME

In August, Ukraine is beginning the 27th year in the status of an independent state. What the country has achieved in the first 26 years of independence, where to move and what struggle is still waiting for our people in an exclusive interview with Yosyf Zisels for Fashion of Diplomacy.

What are our most important achievements over the years of independence?

— The main achievement is the final separation from imperial Russia. It was very difficult and, apparently, the consequences will be long haul. The war means that the disruption has come. For the empire uses aggression as the last argument. But separating does not mean becoming a strong, wealthy, democratic country. What happens next depends on us.

Gradually, the identity of citizens evolutionarily changes from Eurasian to European. We do not see all the foundations of the process. But this is clear judging by external markers. Our Maidans are precisely such markers.

What does Ukraine need to become strong, democratic, wealthy?

— To become strong, we must move on. We are going slowly. We need to help the evolutionary way of transformation. If the government understands this, it contributes. If it is against, it is swept by the Maidan.

How about now?

— Today the authorities understand. Maybe not in the way we would like. But our entire elite are a legacy of the empire. We cannot have another one yet.

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How have the Ukrainians changed during this time?

— The Ukrainians have become more Ukrainians. Studies show that people are returning to religion. There is a civilization transformation by means of globalization, the Internet, television, trips to Europe. All these contribute to the change of self-determination. Reflexively we want to be European. But that does not mean that we are on this way. We still have a lot of Eurasian. This boundary passes not along the Dnipro. It goes through each of us. In peacetime, we could be a bridge between Europe and Eurasia, because we understand both of them well.

And in the military one?

— We turned out to be in the midst of the war between them. Our conflict is not linguistic, not religious, but of civilizations.

Can we develop without external influences?

— To go your own way, you need to be strong. What way is it? All countries, our neighbours have passed it — it is a road to Europe.

Can Ukraine finish the war?

— The war was brought about by Russia.

Therefore, the Kremlin has to withdraw from the conflict. How to force them to do this? Either

Yosyf Zisels is a Ukrainian public figure, a dissident, a figure of the Jewish movement in Ukraine.

BEFORE RELEASE

we will become so strong that we will resist any military and informational provocation. Or it is necessary to gather the whole civilized world, so that it will force Moscow to retreat.

Why have we not influenced the world community in any way yet?

— We are doing that. The world’s attitude toward Russia and Ukraine has changed during three years. In our favour.

But there is a feeling that the world has left us, and we are on our own with Russia.

— The world helps us. Only those who stand against the aggressor themselves are supported. The more we will resist the more we will be helped. The West cannot immediately understand — in fact, we are protecting their civilization. And such small countries — the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria — are really afraid that Putin will strike them with atomic bombs. They think about it and talk.

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Why do many Europeans not know about the war in Ukraine?

— Just put yourself in their shoes. It is very comfortable there. They live well. They have achieved this by their evolution. And suddenly there is a war somewhere. To pay attention and take it as own pain? Who wants to fight when they live comfortably? The Russians are fighting because they have nothing to lose.

Can we return the territory occupied

by Russia?

— There is a probability that we will succeed.

It cannot be done by war. There will be very heavy casualties. Somebody believes that Crimea and Donbass will return after the collapse of Russia.

There is no certainty that they will choose the path of joining Ukraine.

Secondly, what is the collapse of Russia? It breaks down into pieces. These are not just armed neighbours, but also the ones who have nuclear weapon. Putin, whatever scumbag he has been, controls that territory and nuclear weapon. The

BEFORE RELEASE Americans are most concerned about the fate of the weapon. Therefore, they will not let Russia collapse. This will slow down the return of Donbass and Crimea to us. Consolidated pressure of the West on Moscow can accelerate the process.

But the question is not in the territories, but in people. This is the biggest loss.

What should our place be on the world stage?

— Let us look at the western countries that are more like us. Those who think that we will become Poland, France or Germany, let them forget about it. We can become like Bulgaria (10 years in the European Union, GDP has grown from 28.7 to 45 billion euros. The average salary is 235 euros — ed.). We have a lot in common. It is an Orthodox, Slavic, post-colonial and post-communist country, as well as we are. In other states – there are not such starting conditions at all.

Should this model of development be implemented by our government?

— The government must catch up with the civil society, which leads Ukraine to Europe. When the parliament, the government, the president understand these processes, the movement will begin.

decide for us? So what? In 2013, the majority in the West was inclined to believe that Ukraine was Putin’s control zone. Let him do what he wants.

So what? Five million went out to the Maidan. 30 thousand went as volunteers to the army. And who listened to France, Germany or the USA? Do people want to live with Russia? No. And nobody will force them to do so. 7–8 million volunteers represent 15 percent of the population. This is the force that may preserve us even when the West leaves. Of course, this will be a bad script, but it will not break the way of this country.

What do you dream about?

— I dream of the end of the war. How to make our country comfortable, prosperous, wealthy. This can only be dreamed of, because we will always be disturbed. And we will always be overcoming this resistance.

What leader do we need to implement this?

— The one who will follow the civil society and will understand the essence of the civilizational choice. Then he/she will be able to lead this evolutionary movement.

The conversation was held by Iryna PATLATIUK

Experts often say that the world can determine etermine the fate of Ukraine without our ur participation. The USA will make an arrangement rangement with Russia and we will have conflict. ve a frozen conflict.

— It is absurd. The frozen conflict is our dream.. As in Moldova or Georgia. There is no warr there, people do not die. We have the he dead every day. Secondly, such h things are spoken byy those who do nderstand not understand the changes that have taken place in our state.

They do not see them. What will ca or America Europe e

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UKRAINE POLICY MAKERS 1991–2017

THE RESULTS OF THE QUARTER-CENTURY OF INDEPENDENT UKRAINE DIPLOMATIC NICETIES OF UKRAINIAN POLITICAL ELITE RULING THE COUNTRY AT THE END OF THE 20TH AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURIES EXCLUSIVE CONFESSIONS OF THE PRESIDENTS OF UKRAINE

LEONID KRAVCHUK LEONID KUCHMA VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO PETRO POROSHENKO

UKRAINE POLICY MAKERS

1991–1994

KRAVCHUK Leonid Makarovych

He was the first President of independent Ukraine. Ironically, leading of the most successful attempt to create Ukrainian state in the twentieth century fell to the person, who fought against the Ukrainian self-sustained movement.

The Second Secretary on Ideological Issues of the Communist Party of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, was elected the first President of independent state on the first ballot. In fact, those were the first presidential elections throughout Ukraine's history.

The leader of Ukrainian People's Movement, Viacheslav Chornovil, a charismatic and volitional man with a dissident past, was the main compe-

titor of Kravchuk. Chornovil lost these elections and complained for a long time that many of his like-minded people and fellow party members worked against him during the 1991 election campaign, de facto helping Kravchuk to win. And indeed, there was a strange certainty among the main opponents of Kravchuk in 1991 that only the Soviet Communist Party bureaucrat of high rank would be able to reach an agreement with Yeltsin.

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When I became the President, all the Сhiefs in the leading positions in the state were Communists, #3, August 2017

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UKRAINE POLICY MAKERS there were 350 Communist MPs in the Verkhovna Rada... Many people in the country believed that the Communists were those who worked for Ukraine, but the members of the Movement believed those ones were working against Ukraine... If at that time we started active actions against the communists, they would be able to create a powerful and effective opposition and block any advance... 3.5 million Communists — it is a significant force and the time of its deactivation has not yet come... — confesses the First President.

Ukraine–1991, where Leonid Kravchuk was elected as the President, consisted of several antagonistic social groups and had many contradictions — confessional and regional. They were put to sleep by the cold winter of the Soviet Union, but at the end of the 1980s, the thaw awoke not only stirring of the population. The old contradictions of various "ukraines", which were sewn together only by Stalin in the 1930s and 1940s, awoke. Kravchuk knew it very well due to the position he held in the Central Committee of the

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Communist Party of Ukraine.

Powerful anticommunist demonstrations went around the Soviet Ukraine in the autumn, 1990. Those events are customary called the first Ukrainian Maidan. Some of the Ministers and prominent politicians of the present time took part in those events. At that time they were students — a powerful anti-Soviet and anticommunist student movement was one of the Ukrainian visiting cards in the early 1990s. These people could be a secure foothold in the struggle against communist establishment of the already dying Ukrainian SSR. However, Leonid Kravchuk has his own opinion on this issue:

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The communists were experienced leaders... The state machine would actually have collapsed without them... Moreover, one should not forget that in 1991 there was not the only Ukraine, but in fact there were two Ukrainian nations — West Ukrainian and East Ukrainian, and they looked at many things differently... This also had to be taken into account...

UKRAINE POLICY MAKERS Certainly, Ukraine came out of the Soviet fence into a free, wide and dangerous world in quite difficult time. There was a bloody and brutal war, provoked by the dissolution of Yugoslavia, in the Balkans, in Europe. Many in the world were afraid that the dissolution of the USSR would follow the Yugoslavia pattern. Nationally conscious Ukraine was indeed limited to three Galician areas and the Zbruch River. Fights between the Ukrainian ultra-right and communists took place on the square in front of the current Olympic Stadiumin Kyiv on November 7, 1991.

The first blood was spilled, though that was only blood from broken faces.

The country was balancing on the verge of great upheavals — then they managed to avoid, not least, due to the art of maintaining a political equilibrium, at which the first President was very good. That was the equilibrium between the communist bureaucrats and the anticommunist students, between the put to sleep but numerous East and the provoking passionate but economically weak West.

How was it managed?

The President, not without sadness and irony at the same time, says:

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You have no idea what was happening when there was an effort to raise the yellow-and-blue flag

above the building of the Verkhovna Rada... The communist majority was firmly against... It was necessary to use a trick and declare that there would be two flags, waving above the Verkhovna Rada...

Actually, that sort of country under the two flags Ukraine was during the reign of Kravchuk.

The art of political equilibrium was enough just for three years of his reign — from 1991 to 1994.

Crimea would explode in 1994, the Chechen War would begin in 1994, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation would develop a hybrid war plan that would be terribly reminiscent of what we would see in 2014.

Donbas would explode, truly speaking, with economic miners' strikes in 1994. The traumatized post-Soviet economy of Ukraine shook in 1994.

The art of political equilibrium was not enough.

It was necessary to look for and apply new approaches. As sure enough it happened in 1994.

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UKRAINE POLICY MAKERS

1994–2005

KUCHMA Leonid Danylovych

Leonid Kuchma became the President of Ukraine on July 10, 1994. Before that he had managed to work as the Chairman of the Government of independent Ukraine. In the context of economic crisis of that time, that post was extremely neurotic and ungrateful. The presidency was even more neurotic and even more ungrateful.

It is very strange now to recall that cold civilian mini-war which preceded his election to the presidential post. He was considered (ultimately, not without reason) to be the man who had been longed for by so-called "red directorate".

It concerned the heads and de facto the owners of the national heavy industry, which bore, as a life-buoy ring, all the national economy and did not let it go to the bottom. The oligarchs in the modern sense of the term did not exist, the directorate was considered (for some reason) to be incurably pro-Russian community. That is why the Ukrainian patriotic community saw a kind of national Lukashenko in Kuchma, and precisely because of that, it stubbornly and some what hysterically agitated for the first President.

which brought Kuchma to power. The attitude of Ukrainian society to this bourgeois revolution remains very and very ambiguous, but due to tycoonization of the Ukrainian economy, it broke the connection with the Russian economy. Though very slowly, but still inevitably.

During the reign of Kuchma, the hryvnia was introduced and hyperinflation was stopped in the early 1990s. Such a step was also possible due to the fact that the wounded and injured Ukrainian economy plumped into predatory and, sometimes, bloody but still private hands. The President himself says about the introduction of the national currency:

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The introduction of the hryvnia should have promoted stabilization of the monetary system and turned

In 2017, eventually, one can safely look around and confess that the Ukrainian patriotic community was wrong. And it was not just in the economy, though, when Kuchma accepted Ukraine "in bad condition", only twenty percent of the national economy worked in closed-loop mode. Eighty percent did not exist beyond the co-operation with the country with which we are conducting an exhausting and brutal survival war now.

It was during Kuchma’s reign when the Ukrainian economy carried out so-called "capitalist revolution" or "great oligarchic coup". It was during his reign when great national bourgeoisie appeared and declared itself, and which was recruited not only from the lines of the "red directorate" #3, August 2017

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UKRAINE POLICY MAKERS it into a stimulating factor in the country's economic and social development. And our expectations were fulfilled. Already in the second half of 1996 we managed to keep inflation in the projected parameters; since the first days of the reform the stable exchange rate of hryvnia to foreign currencies was maintained, the unshadowing of the circulation of money began, deposits and loans in the banking system increased... By the way, the reform itself was not confiscatory...

And there were good reasons for that: it was very important for us to get the population's trust in the new national currency, policy of governance and economic reforms.

It was necessary to maintain stability in the monetary, consumer and foreign exchange markets, as well as prevent speculative operations in exchange of couponkarbovanets for hryvnia and prevent social tension in the society*.

worst) fundamental law of the state was implemented. For this purpose, the Verkhovna Rada of that time, where Communists and Socialists comprised the majority, had to be actually bent across the knee.

In domestic policy, the adoption of the Constitution and restraint of Crimean separatism should be included in the victories. On June 28, 1995, the Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR was abolished and, albeit not impeccable, nevertheless new (and not the

The so-called "multivector" was proclaimed in foreign policy, which some politicians even at that time called "geopolitical prostitution". Obviously, in vain. That strong background, which current Ukrainian European integration has, was created between 1 1994 and 2004.

Crimean separatism of the 1990s was also bent across the knee. Nowadays when the peninsula is occupied, the memory of how skillfully and savagely Kuchma's people took the Crimea of that time by a sensitive place is bound to be sad. It is equally sad to mention that it was Kuchma who defended the tiny island of Tuzla in the Kerch Strait in the autumn of 2003; at long last the current owners of Ukraine do not recall this.

Although Kuchma himself somewhat diminishes both his role and the role of Ukrainian security officials in the Crimean operation of that time:

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Remember 1994–95: the referendum was held in the Crimea, they created their constitution, President Mieshkov — from Moscow, the government headed by Saburov — from Moscow. And only thanks to Yeltsin, who did not intervene and did not let all the rest of the Russians intervene, we solved all the problems ourselves**.

However, the fact remains that the Crimea remained the part of our state. Until 2014.

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The most important thing, for which I was wa criticized all the time, multivector policy, but I was m hold this ground today h too. t Because living in the m modern world and bowing only to one side, I mean a on weak country maybe should we *http://fakty.ua/152944-leonid-kuchma-poka*http:// ukraina ukraina-ne-pereshla-na-nacionalnuyu-valyutuza-rube za-rubezh-utekli-milliardy-dollarov **https://censor.net.ua/n285741 **https

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try, as it is said, to be friends with everyone only on behalf of the own country — that is how Leonid Kuchma would remember that foreign policy model as far back as 2014***.

Separately, it should be emphasized that at that time, the Ukrainian Foreign Policy Department was actively engaged in the creation of powerful political and economic pro-Ukrainian lobbies – in almost all key countries of the world.

At the instigation of the second President a slogan of foreign policy economization was introduced, which in reality was reduced to the fact that Ukrainian business should firmly consolidate itself either in the market of Brazil, or Iran, or Indonesia, and actively contribute to the fact that this Brazil-Indonesia, if there is necessity in something, has to buy this "something" exactly in Ukraine.

Ukraine actively intervened in the internal Macedonian armed conflict in 2001. When the own Donbass emerged in this Balkan country in the form of armed demonstrations of the Albanian separatists, Kuchma's Kyiv provided Macedonia with powerful armed assistance that, in

fact, made the defeat of the armed Albanian movement possible.

But we would be biased and not sincere if we did not mention the black side of Leonid Kuchma’s reign. The massive capitalization of the Ukrainian economy led to the emergence of such a sad factor as the market of political services, which triggered a rapid penetration of those who are customary called the criminal bourgeoisie or, more simply, the "brothers' circle", to the government institutions.

Kuchma and his "court" found a common language with that folk perfectly, especially after 2000 and still not uspelled and not properly interpreted Gongadze case. And it is thanks to this fatal to Ukraine mutual understanding, the door to the Olympus of Ukrainian authorities was opened for Donetsk criminal group, known in the mining capital as "Lux" or "Botanical Garden". Rinat Akhmetov and Viktor Yanukovych belonged to the leadership of this group. The last one, thanks to the mentioned collaboration, at first became the Head of the Donetsk Oblast State Administration, in 2003 – the Head of the Ukrainian government and a candidate from the pro-government forces for the post of the President of Ukraine.

But that is a completely different story...

***https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/kuchma-vystupaet-zamnogovektornost-vo-vneshney-politike-05062014105300

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UKRAINE POLICY MAKERS

2005–2010

YUSHCHENKO Viktor Andriyovych

Viktor Yushchenko, a banker and incorrigible aesthete-Ukrainophile, a former Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine, a former Head of the Ukrainian government, who, not without a reason, was considered to be reformatory at the beginning of the 2000s, the "father" of the hryvnia, which had not diminished yet, became the President of Ukraine in 2005.

His ascension to the throne was preceded by a series of dramatic and not very safe for the state events, which were called the "Orange Revolution" or the first Maidan. That was in November and December of 2004, when our Homeland almost split along the boundaries of the old Hetmanate.

Yushchenko declared his presidential ambitions when Leonid Kuchma's days were nearly over. Yushchenko’s reformatory activity in a position of the Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine worked in his favour.

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I got the post of the Head of government when all of you received salaries in millions of coupon-karbovantzs... when there was barter... when there was nothing to pay pensions with... I broke this system..." — says the third President. #3, August 2017

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Kuchma made a controversial, but a powerful capitalistic revolution in the economy and greatly Ukrainisized the humanitarian sphere in the country. This proved to be enough for a "middle class" of a new sort to emerge in Ukraine — people, in whose environment there was access to the Internet, internship in the USA and involvement in the world artistic events, perfectly and calmly corresponded with wearing an embroidered Ukrainian shirt and interest in Ukrainian ethnography and Ukrainian history.

These people wanted another country — they were not satisfied with the post-Soviet, soft-authoritarian Leonid Kuchma’s style. They wanted to go to Europe without visas. Putin's Russia did not attract them at all and did not look as the land of promise in their sight. They did not comprise the majority in Ukraine-2004, they were political minority, but a passionate and determined minority. And they saw their president in the banker, who was in love with the hetman and Trypillian antiquities. It is thanks to these people Yushchenko won — their standing on the freezing Maidan, their determination and persistency, multiplied by the fact that Kuchma was tired of the power and that Akhmetov’s clan did not get used to behaving impudently and adultly outside Donbass, made Viktor Yushchenko the third President of independent Ukraine.

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There was a very quick disenchantment with him. Those who stood on the Maidan wanted a miracle — they wanted now, here and desirably immediately. The miracle did not hurry to Ukraine and Yushchenko was accused of this.

His delicacy began to be considered weakness, his endurance — indecisiveness, and admiration for Ukrainian antiquity – an unnecessary lord's whim. From the folk’s deification to folk’s censuring there was not a step, but half a step — even the commemoration of the Holodomor victims, which during Yushchenko’s reign became a state event, turned into an object of cynical and rather ugly jokes. However President Yushchenko was well aware of all the challenges facing Ukraine.

First of all, geopolitical ones:

–

Such a neighbourhood as we have nobody in Europe has... The history of our relations with neighbours is too difficult and too bloody... Once I advised the President of Russia in order to better understand the history of Ukraine, to watch Jerzy Hoffman's film "Fire and Sword"...

Two episodes... In the first series the Ukrainians cut the Poles, in the second — the Poles cut the

Ukrainians... Blood flows like a river...

It is now customary to say that Yushchenko was a weak President and a weak politician. However, in 2007, he disbanded the Verkhovna Rada because the parliament gradually but inevitably turned into a deadly for Ukraine alliance of Donetsk gangsters with the left parties’ representatives. Disbanded, without having the necessary powers. A similar voluntarist step surprised former supporters and shocked the opponents.

Since 2004 Ukraine has found itself on the verge of a serious civil conflict for the second time. The Donetsk clan and the left parties tried to organize their own Maidan, but it turned out to be surprisingly notorious and secondary — as well as everything that comes from resentment.

Fights among people of different political preferences broke out in the capital's centre. The internal armed forces, which that "weak" President brought out of the command of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and moved directly under his own control, went for Kyiv.

However, then it did not come to blood. At night of the Trinity 2007 negotiations between Yushchenko, for one part, and Oleksandr Moroz (from the left-wingers) and Viktor Yanukovych

(from the Donetsk clan) for the other part, took place. They agreed on something. Donetsk communist Maidan disbanded home. The internal armed forces returned to the barracks. Evil tongues and arrogant politicians are keen to say that it was that night when it was decided that Yushchenko would convey power to Yanukovych, which, finally, happened in 2010.

The majority of Ukrainians like to remember the five years of the third President’s reign as a blatantly wasted time, forgetting about the return of historical memory, the commemoration of the most sad and tragic events at the state level (for the first time in the history of independent Ukraine) and, finally, about the creation of a bank credit system of the European model in Ukraine.

Yes, of course, there were a few loud failures — first of all in foreign politics. In domestic politics, too many people censured the President because he did not press the left-wingers and Donetsk ones, doing nothing for his own part. One way or another, but Ukrainian Ukraine (sorry for the tautology) increased during the reign of the third President. It is this Ukrainian Ukraine, that finished school and went to colleges between 2005 and 2010, became the main militant force of the second Maidan and the first Ukrainian-Russian war in the twenty-first century... #3, August 2017

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UKRAINE POLICY MAKERS

since 2014

POROSHENKO Petro Oleksiyovych

The fifth President of Ukraine had to lead the state in the most difficult period of modern history. In fact, during a war — during the great, bloody and more than brutal war, when there is and there will be not only the territorial integrity of Ukraine at stake, but also the very fact of our state's existence on the political map of the world.

The election of Petro Poroshenko to the presidency was preceded by a series of dramatic events, including the "Revolution of Dignity" and the so-called "Russian Spring". The first event concerns the removal of the Donetsk clan from the power and a significant geopolitical reorientation of Ukraine, starting from 2010. The second one is the entry of troops of the Russian Federation into the Ukrainian territory and the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula and the partial occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

During the "Revolution of Dignity", the future President was not in the very centre of the great confusion. Of course, if you do not count the dramatic events of December 2013, when an angry crowd tried to break the boundaries of Special Forces soldiers near the building of the Presidential Administration. Poroshenko in vain calmed the crowd down and almost became a victim of that crowd. In less than a year, he would become the President of Ukraine and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and young people, who he tried to calm down in vain would become the soldiers of the Volunteer Battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In fact, his subjects. History loves jokes on the brink of "dark humor". Especially the native one.

The pre-term presidential elections-2014 were held not as the last thing to ensure that the EU and the USA had the reason to talk about legitimate power in Kyiv. Poroshenko won these elections in one round — however, hardly anybody saw him either a peoples’ messiah like Yushchenko or an anti-peoples’ anti-christ, like Yanukovych. The Ukrainians were mainly interested in whether he would sell his business, whether

he would stop the hryvnia falling, or whether the Armed Forces of Ukraine would come to the eastern border under his command. No one was waiting for a miracle from Poroshenko.

In August 2014, the Russian troops increased their presence in the Ukrainian east — increased evenly to extend needed to close volunteer battalions in an inferior boiler near Ilovaisk and swallow a part of the Azov coast. The advance of the Ukrainian Army, which had begun with the return of the northern Luhansk and eastern Donetsk regions, stopped. The war moved on to its trench stage. This stage ultimately continues up to this day. However, in August 2014, it seemed likely that the Russian army would break through to the Dnipro.

That did not happen. A diplomat by education, the fifth President preferred diplomatic means of pressure on the Russian Federation.

They worked — but worked only in conjunction with the tactics of hard defense, which would have to exhaust the enemy. This tactic cost us another boiler, attacked by fire Mariupol and the tragedy at the Donetsk airport, but the front line nevertheless stabilized in 2016. Ultimately, the President still believes that the Russian pressure system he had chosen was correct:

–

We hope for further strengthening of the leading role of the European Union in the process of peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas and support of the international initiatives of Ukraine on the de-occupation of the Crimea... I hope that we will hold the next EU-Ukraine summits once again — let me express this assumption — in Donetsk and in Yalta. I would do everything possible for this...*

*https://www.5.ua/polityka/poroshenko-maiu-nadiiu-shcho-nastupnisamity-ukrainayes-budut-provedeni-v-donetsku-i-yalti-150152.html

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In foreign policy, Poroshenko with almost fanatical stubbornness, the one, that as a rule ignores the objective reality, has conducted a radical European integration course. It was decided to laugh at this stubbornness, as well as it was decided to laugh at the presidential claims. Poroshenko himself laughed at these merry chaps and tattlers, quoting Russian-speaking Scotsman Lermontov, after proclamation of a wished-for visa free regime with the European Union at the solemn concert.

The common language with Donald Trump, the new US president, was also found. At least, the President himself spoke about his visit to the USA and the negotiations with Trump as follows:

–

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If to talk about my main impressions of the visit to the USA and the meeting with President Trump, his key position was not to give advice, but he clearly asked: "Petro, how can I help you?" This is the position of a real partner, a true friend of Ukraine... . As for handshake — it was a handshake of the partners. And the overall atmosphere, which begans with #3, August 2017

handshake, was very friendly, very partner like, very reliable and I felt very comfortable...** In internal politics, truly, "the joy embraced the grief". Falling of the hryvnia was managed to be paused, but at the rate, which would be a terrible nightmare in 2013. However, the President is almost optimistic about the future of the national currency:

–

We can say that stability of hryvnia is not under the threat in the current situation. And the position regarding the gold and currency reserves, and the position on possible borrowings is the one that allows control of the situation.***

Also a slow but rigid curtailment of the post-revolutionary "holiday of disobedience", which roughly and like a carnival burned the 2014 and 2015 has begun since 2016. The state made **http://ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/3864978-poroshenkona-zustrichi-tramp-pytav-chym-dopomohty ***http://news.financ.ua/ua/news/-/279475/poroshenkogryvni-ne-zagrozhuye-devalvatsiya

it clear that the revolutionary and Maidan mess does not match military time, sometimes making such an explanation rather rigidly.

Separately, another two tendencies, which mark the reign of the fifth President and which go hand in hand with that taming of the shrew, which was discussed above, should be mentioned. The first one is Ukrainianization and de-communism, which were implemented more persistently in three years than in five Yushchenko’s years. They are clearly promoted by the war in Donbass and diabolical Moscow Ukrainophagia, but the destroyed monuments to those who drowned in the blood of the UPR, embroidered shirts as a nationwide dress code and Kamianske instead of the clumsy Dniprodzerzhynsk and Horishni Plavni instead of the faceless Komsomolsk - all these happened under the omophorion of, in fact, the fifth President, who commented on this ideological trend exactly like that:

–

You just imagine how this SovietRussian ideological trash littered Ukraine! Even at such a rate of dismantling in the country, up to a thousand of monuments to the bloody Illich still remains.... The names of the executioners are out from the Ukrainian map, it

is out of the question. But what name to choose for the future — let the communities decide for themselves... The only warning is not to return to imperial names. I will not allow the map of Ukraine to be blurred again with Novorussky toponyms! We must complete decommunization, because this is the matter of national security.

As well as our responsibility for the future and moral duty to the millions and millions of Ukrainians exterminated by Bolshevism.**** The second tendency is less obvious and does not stand out too much. It is about the fact that the own ideology gradually appears in the state. After the multi-vector of the 1990s, after the country was actually torn apart between the orange and white-blue poles of political power, the concept of the "United Country", which actually has a landmark already determined by giving us a visa-free regime, has finally emerged. This is about a gradual, but not evasive, entry of our state into the Western civilization. But this is a tendency for the nearest future.

****https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polytics/2017337-porosenko-prodekomunizaciu-perejmenuvatisa-maut-vsi-krapka.html

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BENEFICENCE IN UKRAINE

The First Lady of the country is not just the President's wife. This is a responsible post and hard work. Our legislation does not provide for their responsibilities. However, according to the tradition, these are the First Ladies who care for the downtrodden, who need help and attention most of all. In this case, the Ukrainian wives of the Presidents are not far behind their foreign colleges.

BENEFICENCE IN UKRAINE

Antonina Kravchuk Became the First Lady of independent Ukraine at the time when charity had not yet managed to put down too deep roots. However, that was she, who prepared Ukraine for the fact that the First Lady has to accompany the President of an independent state. University lecturer, Candidate of Science in Economics, Ms. Antonina joined the creation of a well-known project in the educational field. It was for her active assistance that the "Personnel" publishing house was launched at one of the very first non-state educational institutions — the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management (IAPM), and it was thanks to her that the Academy became almost the only higher educational institution in our country, where students had textbooks on almost all disciplines. They were published directly in the Academy itself.

Liudmyla Kuchma If charity in the early 1990s had not yet become a trend for the domestic political elite, then the situation was already quite different in the second half of the 1990s. Liudmyla Kuchma, the wife of the second President, was actively involved in charitable projects. Only one list of those positions in various organizations headed by Ms. Liudmyla cannot but amaze, because the First Lady of our state in 1994–2004 was also the honorary President of the Mother and Child Foundation, the Head of the Board of Trustees of the Hope and Kindness Fund, supported the Paralympic Team of Ukraine. She was UNESCO Special Envoy for Advancement of Young Talents. Despite the ambiguous attitude towards Leonid Kuchma and his close circle, we must admit that Ms. Liudmyla's charitable activity did not cause any negative resonance.

#3, August 2017

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BENEFICENCE IN UKRAINE

Kateryna Yushchenko The wife of Victor Yushchenko, at that time the most pro-Western Ukrainian state leader, was born in the USA. Not surprisingly, she was actively involved in various charitable projects. Even the worst critics did not question her contribution to the Holodomor Museum. Also, it should not be forgotten that it was Kateryna Yushchenko who initiated a financial help to mothers of many children. At least, her “Ukraine 3000” Charitable Fund still works, providing assistance to families with many children and the children who are seriously ill. In an interview with the domestic media, Kateryna Yushchenko mentioned:

"... we continue those programs and directions that we have identified for ourselves — child medicine, education, culture. We have a large Ukrainian program of helping children's medical institutions "From Hospital to Hospital".

The Fund, together with partners, has donated a large amount of modern medical equipment to children's hospitals for an overall amount of more than 50 million dollars.

More than 120 children’s doctors from all over Ukraine have undertaken an internship in leading American and European clinics, and for children's hospitals we have found reliable partners abroad to exchange experience, cooperate and communicate"*.

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*http://www.umoloda.kiev.ua/number/3041/188/102941/

Maryna Poroshenko The wife of the present Ukrainian leader, Maryna Poroshenko, a cardiologist and a Candidate of Medical Science, a daughter of the Deputy Minister of Health of the Ukrainian SSR, of course, could not but be engaged in charity, especially in the medical field. Repeatedly, mass media reported on measures for children with special needs conducted by the First Lady within the framework of Petro Poroshenko’s charity fund activity. Also, Ms. Maryna initiated numerous actions to help children with cancer. However, the most well-known charitable action of Maryna Poroshenko’s was not an action directly related to medicine. In 2016 the story about the disabled Roman Kysliak from Lviv was made known. The man with cerebral palsy was banished from one of the Lviv restaurants. Maryna Poroshenko intervened on behalf of him.

"... I fully support the wave of indignation of the Ukrainians regarding the situation, which happened to the patient with cerebral palsy, Roman Kysliak. I am firmly convinced that a similar act towards a person with a disability is at least outrageous"**.

Then the First Lady invited Roman Kysliak to coffee. She was supported by many people. In that way the First Lady was aimed at attracting more public attention to the problems of people with special needs.

As we can see, the connection of Ukrainian presidents’ wives with charity has quite an interesting story. We hope that our First Ladies will implement their human virtues in helping those, who need it. And the charity of the country's leadership will become a long and good tradition in the renewed European Ukraine. **http://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/marina-poroshenko-zaprosila-vipiti-kaviinvalida-z-dtsp-jakogo-vignali-z-kafe-u-lvovi-96675.html

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ART IN UKRAINE

14 YEARS OUT OF FORTY BIBLICAL ONES ARE LEFT FOR US. THEN WE WILL GET OUT OF THE DESERT Ukraine celebrates the Independence Day on August 24. This is a special date for every Ukrainian. We started the second quarter of a century as a sovereign state. We have something to be proud of and what to share with the world. Not only our statehood, but also the democratic values of all mankind are protected by our own blood. Those who create a new Ukraine every day told Fashion of Diplomacy what the Ukrainians have achieved and where our nation is going.

ART IN UKRAINE

Serhii PROSKURNIA,

Ukrainian theater director, producer: A lot of things can be said for 26 years. Ukrainian culture has achievements. The first one is the absence of censorship.

Directors and playwrights do not have to extort metaphors.

The theatre has ceased to be Aesop’s. Now we have a theatrical boom associated with very eective co-authorship of playwrights and directors.

It is the time not only of mentality change. But the change of canons. That is what opened the gateways and modernity has become a part of Ukrainian culture. We existed in the simulator of modernity until independence. Therefore, it was a time of rapid boiling of the volcano, which was kept closed. The lid was opened and the incredible energy went into the future.

Another very positive fact is the adoption of the law on the Ukrainian cultural fund. It provides mechanisms for implementation of everything in the field of culture and art. All developed countries have passed that.

14 years out of forty Biblical ones are left for us. Then we will get out of the desert.

Maryna KINAKH, journalist, honourary president of the NGO "Culture and the Universe-2000": We have made a quantum leap in Ukrainian culture during the years of independence. We have begun to shoot a real high-quality domestic film. There are film festivals in Ukraine. We have a lot of interesting actors. Their talent is appreciated abroad.

When I watch "The Nutcracker" at the performance in Vienna, and I am told that a leading ballerina from Ukraine is dancing, or when Angelina Shvachka or Viktoria Lukianets sings at La Scala, I am filled with pride. This is a prestige for Ukraine. These artists glorify our state. But I believe that the time will come when they will shine in the "Ukraine" palace, in the Opera House, in all theatres of our country. I dream that they have the opportunity to develop their talent at home.

I want to live till the time when gifted children will be needed for our country. I want them to have the opportunity to study free of charge and to develop in music and singing very much. It is worth living for the sake of their joy and laughter.

This should be the basis of diplomacy for all politicians and leaders of states. #3, August 2017

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ART IN UKRAINE

Olha REDZIUK, founder of the training company "Olerom", organizer of the largest scale in Ukraine and Eastern Europe business-forum OLEROM FORUM 1: We have a lot of gifted youth. I can say undoubtedly today: Ukraine has made a leap in education. Studying has become fashionable and prestigious. Knowledge opens the way to success. Because when you are a strong manager, a great doctor, a professional teacher or an upscale programmer, then you can easily realize your potential in the Motherland.

And our mission is to help in this. That is why, in the framework of our project, we annually bring people of a global scale to Ukraine — Robert Kiyosaki, Nick Vujicic, Richard Branson. This year we are waiting for a meeting with not less legendary Steve Wozniak. Why do we do this?

To bring a new philosophy to Ukraine. In addition, it gives everyone motivation and action orientation: I can and will change and change myself. So there is a chain reaction and we see these transformations.

It should be staked on education and investing in it money and eorts. It is very good that our business understands this. After all this is development of economy and decent life for the future generations.

Petro AVRAMENKO, director of the Zhytomyr Oblast Music and Drama Theatre named after Ivan Kocherha: Why do I live and work in Ukraine? There is one reason: to love the own one and to create for the own ones. It is good abroad, but it is better, sweeter at home! You can earn there, but you can create only here. The Ukrainians have achieved a lot for a quarter century of independence. And the art has serious positions. It is enough to get acquainted with the performances presented at the theatrical festivals, to visit the book fairs in Lviv, to read anthologies of contemporary Ukrainian prose, poetry, drama to understand: today we have much to be proud of. Our culture is unique and original.

Under extremely unfavourable economic, social, political conditions, it continues to bring people the light. It lives and develops, finds ways to create art. This opens the way to the art of the coming day.

We have already got our place in the world culture. And for a long time. We can hold it back if we can save our own uniqueness and identity. The beautiful is always natural, it knows no boundaries, and it is not subject to time. And we are managing to save it in Ukraine.

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#3, August 2017

ART IN UKRAINE

Tatiana CHEREP-PEROHANYCH, Ukrainian poet, prose writer and journalist:

We have become better. Many fine young authors have come to the literature nowadays. Young writers write in such a way that we can go to the world level with these books. "Coronation of the Word" discovers the new names.

Wherever I make presentations – whether in Odessa, Lviv or Chernihiv – people turn up. That means it is interesting. So there is a demand for the native word. It delights that more and more Ukrainian-language imaginative and professional literature appears.

So we do not have the concerts from Russian performers.

And what has changed? We have discovered our artists. The halls are also full. Tickets are sold. And it is the same in the literature. The Ukrainians consciously support their own books in particular.

We are a nation, a folk, and not someone else's younger brother. We must strive to be considered equal, worthy. And not dependent on anyone.

UKRAINE IS A STRONG STATE Our citizens prove it every day — at the plants and at the factories, at the schools, at the hospitals and at the front line.

We have the bravery to go onwards. Our steps are uncertain sometimes but the goal is more than definite — we are the European nation.

To get the victory we need the world to believe in us — just a bit. And we will cope with everything.

TRAVELING IN UKRAINE

TRAVELING IN UKRAINE

WE CAN SEE THE THINGS WHICH THE EUROPEANS READ IN BOOKS Ukraine is a unique state with extraordinary nature and ancient history.

Mykola Tomenko told Fashion of Diplomacy why our wonders are interesting to the world. He founded the national project «Seven Wonders of Ukraine».

How did the idea of the project appear?

— I wanted to show the Ukrainians everything unique, most prominent and beautiful in the country. I understood that most citizens do not know where we have such places. But foreigners know little about our state too. Therefore, the idea was to open Ukraine as much as possible for itself and for the world.

There are not accidental objects on the list of miracles. How do the best of the best get there?

— We are taking objects from every region. Then there are several stages of nationwide voting. Then a hundred of experts select seven wonders. Our experts are leaders in various fields. They are the people who move the country forward.

We are striving to improve every project. Now we are selecting the most prominent historical cities and towns. The voting is ahead.

What does this give you?

— I study Ukraine by myself. I always wanted to form a positive image of the state here and abroad. What can show us today? Culture, history, architecture, nature, interesting projects. We are perceived as a young country. But that is not the case. We are an old state. Just restored, because we became completely independent just quarter of a century. Now

it needs to be explained to Europe. And to realize it ourselves.

The “Seven Wonders of Ukraine” project has several directions.

Which is the most successful?

— Each one is successful in its own way. And as for me, this is “Seven Natural Wonders”. Films about them are used at schools. Nature in Ukraine is unique. We found a lot of unexpected. We discovered raisins for both foreigners and Ukrainians.

“Seven Historic Wonders” were important for demythologization. We took such objects as Chersonese. It is not far from Sevastopol, which for some reason is called “the city of Russian sailors”. But Russia had something to do with it in the second half of the 19th century, and it had been Greek culture, Genoese before that.

The British have invested a lot there. Such projects give the opportunity to destroy propaganda myths about the history of Ukraine. We try to tell the truth in an accessible form.

Which of the wonders absorbs you most?

— Wherein is our uniqueness? We have everything — from the desert to the caves.

Although now it is possible to shoot films in the canyons in the Podilski Tovtry. We managed to do the Buzkyi Gard reserved.

Tourist infrastructure is developing there.

Everybody comes there to go rafting. #3, August 2017

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TRAVELING IN UKRAINE Oleshkivski sands became a discovery for me.

I consider the Bilhorod-Dnistovskyi fortress to be undervalued. For it is Akkerman. And Khotynska too. And Kachanivsky Palace. It is necessary to speak more about the Lutsk castle. It was the capital of Europe at one time. Therefore, we do not go to Europe, but come back. And there was the center of European trade in the south of our country in the 19th century. In those days, Belgians invested the city of Berdiansk. The East of Ukraine — Donetsk — was actually founded by the British. A well-known entrepreneur, Hughes from English Wales, quarried metal there. The Soviet history began later. If we had been able to show the formation of the Crimea or Donetsk correctly in due time, many stereotypes would have been removed. For now it looks like nobody lived there. There was a desert. The Russians came and life was in full swing. But that is not true.

Where do we have untapped potential?

— Huge potential is rural green tourism. It is interesting to live in the village in the old house, to taste the food, to see the culture and traditions. This is our ethnicity.

What is interesting for Europeans in Ukraine? Why should one go here?

— Despite the pressure and destruction, the uniqueness of the state has been preserved. It is virgin nature, where you can feel the character.

This is an ancient Ukrainian village and one of the most intelligent cuisines in the world. We have ritual, magic, philosophy in cooking. There is nothing like that anywhere. And what is more — rituals, songs. The old Europe and ancient Ukraine have survived in our country. What Europeans read in books can be seen in our country.

The conversation was held by Alina ARHYPOVA

Svitlana Podlesna, the President of the International Business Association: «Ukraine is interesting to the world. This is again proved by our projects on international cooperation in the field of tourism. Last year, we represented our state at the International Exhibition EXPO 2016 in Antalya, Turkey. There were 59 participating countries. And I can confidently say — there was a lot of attention to Ukraine. It is interesting to foreigners how we live, what we grow, what natural resources we have. Another no less important project is the meeting of mayors of Ukrainian cities with Turkish heads of municipalities. Our delegations presented own cities, tourist attractions and natural wonders of the area. And in fact, the flow of tourists from Turkey to Western Ukraine began after this. The next stage — we will present our cities to the tour operators there. And I am convinced that we will have even more guests from Turkey. The plans are the same with Bulgaria and the United Arab Emirates.

We show and invite to our country. Undoubtedly, there is still something to work on. But today Ukraine is opening its tourist potential. And this is also the development of the economy, attracting investments and moving the country forward»

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#3, August 2017

TRAVELING IN UKRAINE

Seven Natural Wonders of Ukraine Regional Landscape Park «Granite-Steppe Pobuzhia»

One of the oldest parts of the land in Eurasia. It has not sunk in the depths of the sea for 60 million years. The park occupies the valley of the Southern Bug River in six districts of Mykolaiv region.

Granite rocks are sometimes 40–50 meters high.

National Park «Podilsky Tovtry»

Located in Khmelnytsky region. The Tovtry are the remnants of coastal reefs stretched parallel to the ancient coastline. There are no analogues in the world, but the UK and the USA have similar rocky ridges according to geological structures. Rocky arc-shaped ridges reach an average of 400 meters above sea level. This is the largest park in Ukraine. Since July 13, 2017, it is the part of UNESKO world heritage as one of the array of Bukovy virgin forests of the Carpathians and the ancient beech forests of Germany. #3, August 2017

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TRAVELING IN UKRAINE

The Dniester Canyon

Stretches for 250 kilometers along the Dniester River in Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Khmelnytsky oblasts. There are about 100 monuments of animate and inanimate nature of world significance in its territory.

There are unique samples of subsurface rock cleavage here. These are natural monuments, like which there are almost none in the world. They have ancient fossil remains of flora and fauna, which are about 500 million years old.

National Biosphere Reserve «Askania-Nova»

Located in Kherson region. This is the only part of the steppe in Europe that has never been touched with a plow. The reserve was founded in 1898. Now its area is more than 11 054 hectares. It is the largest on the continent. Bisons, saiga antelopes, fallow deer, Przhevalsky horses, Turkmen kulans, noble deer, Cape buffalos dwell here.

There are also elands, antelopes gnu and nylghau, zebras and gayals.

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#3, August 2017

TRAVELING IN UKRAINE

The Marble Cave

Located on the table land of the Chatyr-Dag mountain range. Today it is the territory of occupied Crimea. According to the estimation of famous speleologists, it belongs to the top five most beautiful caves in the planet. The entrance to it is at a height of 920 meters above sea level. The length of the equipped excursion routes is more than 1.5 km.

Svytiaz Lake

The largest and deepest lake of natural origin in Ukraine. It is located in Volyn oblast. The area of the lake is 2622 hectares; the maximum depth is 58.4 meters. It is included in the Shatsky National Nature Park. Lake water has healing properties. After all, it contains silver, iodine and glycerin in its composition. And the skin after the bath becomes noticeably elastic.

Synevyr Lake

The largest and deepest mountain lake in Ukraine.

It is located at an altitude of 989 m above sea level in the Transcarpathian oblast. The lake was formed in the post-glacial period about 10 thousand years ago. The folk name of Synevyr is Sea Eye. The average water surface is 4–5 hectares, the maximum depth is 19–22 meters. There are three types of trout: lake, rainbow and brook, here. #3, August 2017

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STYLISH UKRAINE

Excursion around Ukraine on the Podium as a Mission of Fashion of Diplomacy What is the meaning of the phrase: "Beauty will save the world"? Whatever figurative it seems to be, I sincerely believe that Dostoyevsky was right. It will save, if it is a unifying and vivid power in the struggle for this world.

How can creative people protect their country? How to attract the attention of the world to our long-suffering Motherland, so that its image would cause not only pity but respect? How to awake feelings, to cause surprise, admiration and, most importantly — the desire to protect Ukraine through the image of a fragile girl who is in danger?

Many people perceive information through ready-made i m a g e s .

Therefore, the complex creation of a

picture of a strong, united country, united by culture and spirit will attract attention faster than sometimes unconvincing words or actions of politicians and diplomats.

This is an interesting precedent for the connection of fashion and politics, when it will be possible to deliver flows of provided information at other levels of consciousness through the culture of society. It seemed like a unique idea to present the whole country to the world on a podium. Thus, the idea of creating a general "The Most Favourite" collection from designers from different regions of Ukraine, where the idea of Ukraine’s unity and its high potential would be fulfilled, was born.

The project implementation had a comprehensive approach: the creation of a film about beauty of Ukrainian regions, background music in several languages and deep wisdom in details of clothing, thanks to the study of the region and search for the most interesting features of cutting.

The task was to find modern trends in the elements of old clothes, the ones which can surprise the world and make it more beautiful.

So "The Most Favourite" show was successfully held in New York, Toronto, Tunisia, at Boryspil airports and in the take-off field of Kyiv airport, in Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv. During the 40 minutes of the show foreigners can understand how beautiful and different Ukraine is, it is like an excursion around the country on the podium! Cultural and diplomatic relations within the framework of the "National Partnership in Light Industry of Ukraine "Fashion Globus Ukraine" project have already introduced Ukrainian culture to a number of countries — Italy, Canada, Slovakia, the USA, the OAU, Indonesia,

Tunisia.

Yes, a lot has been created in the economic sense in three years of the project existence. Fashion Globus Ukraine is a member of the Council of Exporters and Investors under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. And the cooperation of personnel and people’s diplomacy is completely priceless!

As an example, a cultural evening with a demonstration of collections of the most famous Ukrainian designers Roksolana Bohutska, Olena Dats, Holdi Vynohradska, Olena Serebrova, Liudmyla Bushynska and Oksana Polonets was held in Washingtonon on November 30, 2016. Senators and top US politicians were among the invited. The high perception of Ukraine this evening allowed one of the important draft laws to be submitted to the US Senate.

Therefore, through the path of beauty, wisdom and genuine desire to change the world for the best you can get what seems impossible. This is the true Diplomacy!

#3, August 2017

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Fashion House

Ukraine, Kyiv, Tymiriazievska str., 64

voleeyu.com

THE HISTORY OF SUCCESS

AROUND UKRAINE AND IN THE WORLD: INTERTON IS A TRUSTED CARRIER

Success in the modern world cannot be imagined without speed. The relaxation without a desired comfort.

Interton helps to resolve such issues in Ukraine.

This is the first domestic company, which provides passenger transportation services. Diplomatic embassies, well-known enterprises, stars of show business are among the permanent customers.

The General Director of ÂŤIntertonÂť Oksana Kolobova tells about the peculiarities of work.

THE HISTORY OF SUCCESS

You have been working in the market since 1991. In fact, the company was founded with the beginning of independence. How did the idea appear?

— The company was founded by my father Viktor Ivanovych. We can say that Interton is his second child. Daddy was working all his life in the field of transport. When Ukraine became independent, he decided to create his own business. Our company became the first in the market of transport services. At that time, it was not easy to arrange documents and find cars. There were “Volga” and “Zhiguli” in the fleet. The first foreign car was “Chevrolet”. You could see the ones in the cinema.

Later American cars were imported. We began to cooperate with the embassies. We are pleased that the United States Embassy is our oldest client.

Permanent customers are businessmen and private companies. We have received an international license in two years.

How did you manage to keep afloat in the stormy 1990s?

— The father selected and taught the drivers by himself. The main criteria for him were honesty and professionalism. He knew what level of service there should be and tried to go ahead. We had our own service station. If necessary, we repaired our own cars. Dad always said:

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#3, August 2017

“We must work so that it would not be terrible to walk the street and we would not be ashamed”.

The father no longer exists. But it is on his principles that everything is built.

And what are the requirements for drivers today?

— As in the “Carrier” movie. Have you seen it? I am joking. They should be professionals. The main task is to take the client safely and comfortably. I also appreciate the human virtues — honesty, courtesy, nurturing. Each customer has their own requirements. It often happens that the driver does not have to speak on the road.

His professionalism speaks for him. There are different situations – to buy bread for the client or to get out of the car during a telephone conversation. The driver has to respond to everything.

Do you have competitors?

— New companies appear at the market. But our clients stay with us. They know what service they will receive. We updated the fleet. Today we have business class cars. The drivers are experienced. They work at a high level. The clients appreciate their work.

What other advantages do you have?

— We have the authority of the company, experience, quality of services, competitive price working for us. We are not a taxi. We offer car service by order. Therefore, the approach to each customer is special.

THE HISTORY OF SUCCESS

We provide travel services throughout the country. This can be for several days from Kyiv to Odessa or to Transcarpathia.

We have an international license. That is why we can take our client to any country in Europe.

What interests customers in the first place?

— A comfortable car. And so that the price conforms the quality. Most of our customers do not need security. Safety involves the quality of a car, the technical condition. Service is also important. When there were a lot of orders, I got behind the wheel myself. The customers were surprised, but everything was fine.

Who of the famous people did you work with?

— This is confidential information. I can say that these were foreign high-ranking officials who come to visit Ukraine. Famous artists. And also people from business.

What else does the company deal with?

— We have another direction — touristic.

We also help with booking tickets for all types of transport and hotels. Services of translators and guides are provided both in Ukraine and abroad.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement during 25 years of work?

— I have been leading the company for only five years. I consider my father’s job to be the achievement. He was able to find people, unite the team, and get the work with clients going in the difficult 1990s. I started helping him since I was 16. I was able to update the fleet. It was not that simple.

Tell us about your plans for the future.

— We are providing a full range of services to foreign guests in Ukraine now. We are well-placed to enter the European and international markets.

Therefore, we are working in this direction.

The conversation was held by Alina Arhypova

044 235 88 92 044 234 85 17 050 384 70 08 7/13, Tereschenkivska Str., of 1, Kiev. Ukraine interton.kiev.ua #3, August 2017

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DIPLOMATIC CALENDAR

20

AUGUST

I, CULTURE ORCHESTRA. GREAT RETURN The venue: Kyiv The best European Youth Orchestra will play in Kyiv again! 104 extremely talented musicians from Poland, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia and Moldova will perform at the National Opera of Ukraine under the direction of the world-renowned conductor Andrii Boreiko.

The world tour "I, CULTURE Orchestra" will start on 13 August at the “Chopin and His Europe” festival in Warsaw, then the musicians will perform on 19 August at the "Classic outside the Town Hall" festival in Minsk.

On 20 August, the orchestra will arrive in Kyiv and perform at the National Opera of Ukraine at 19.00. Then the musicians will visit Germany with the concert performance on 23 August, 2017 at the "Young Euro Classic" festival. The tour "I, CULTURE Orchestra" will end in Italy on 25 August in Dobbiaco at the "Alto Adige" festival.

24

AUGUST

INDEPENDENCE DAY OF UKRAINE. FESTIVITIES ON THE OCCASION OF THE 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF UKRAINE The venue: Kyiv, Maidan Nezalezhnosti The celebration will begin in the centre of the capital in Maidan Nezalezhnosti and in the Khreshchatyk street. The Ukrainians will be able to watch a festive parade that will begin with the carrying out the flag, and the parade will end with the passage of military units of NATO countries.

In the evening, there will be a festive concert with the participation of two wind orchestras: the National Presidential Orchestra and the USA Air Force Orchestra.

The joint project, which includes more than 120 musicians of wind instruments, will be performed by works of Ukrainian, American and European composers. The performance of the exclusive composition of Ivan Taranenko’s — a paraphrase of Handel's “Halleluiah” and Bortniansky's " Many Years!" will be the main spot of the performance.

27-29

AUGUST

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UKRAINIAN WORLD CONGRESS The venue: Lviv In 2017, the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the success in uniting of Ukrainian communities of the whole the world. Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the UWC in Ukraine is scheduled in Lviv.

The official opening of the ‘Ukrainian Diaspora Days in Lviv’ will take place in the square at the Metropolitan Andrii Sheptytsky Memorial on 27 August at 17.00. The Divine Liturgy at the St. George Catholic Cathedral will continue this evening at 18.00 and at 20.00 - the gala evening is waiting for guests at Lviv Polytechnic National University. Opening of the exhibition is devoted to the 50th anniversary of the Ukrainian World Congress.

28 August, 8.30–17.00 — International Conference "UWC at 50 and beyond: The European Context" at Lviv Polytechnic National University. Also at 18.00 — the presentation of the publication of the Facts from the Archeparchy of Przemyshl about “Ukrainian-Polish reconciliation in documents of the hierarchy and clergy” will be held.

The celebrations of 29 August will end with a number of events as well: at 10.00 - solemn event "Tribute to Heroes" at the State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Lychakiv Cemetery". At 12.30 — event "Ukrainians Together — the Future is ours" at the "Garden of World Ukrainianity". At 13.30 - wreath laying ceremony at Taras Shevchenko Monument. At 16.30 — opening of exhibit of diaspora artists from the collection of the Andrii Sheptytsky National Museum in Lviv. And at 18.30 — a solemn academy on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the UWC ‘Reminiscencii UA’ at the Solomiya Krushelnytska National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Lviv. #3, August 2017

AUGUST/2017 Independence Day of the Republic of Benin Day of the Swiss Confederation Foundation

1

TU

6

SU

Independence Day of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire

7

MO

9

WE

Independence Day of the Republic of Ecuador

17 TH 19 SA

St. Ishtwan's Day (King of Hungary)

Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Republic) Independence Day of Malaysia Independence Day of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Independence Day of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism Day of the National Flag of Ukraine

24 TH 25 FR

Independence Day of the Republic of Moldova

Day of the Republic of Korea Liberation Independence Day of India Independence Day of the Republic of Congo National Day of the Principality of Liechtenstein

20 SU 23 WE

Independence Day of Ukraine

Independence Day of the Republic of Chad

14 MO 15 TU

Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia Independence Day of the Republic of Gabon

National Day of the Republic of Singapore

10 TH 11 FR

Independence Day of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Independence Day of the Republic of Bolivia Independence Day of Jamaica

Independence Day of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay

27 SU 29 TU

The Day of the Slovak National Rebellion in 1944

31 TH 63

IN THE NEXT ISSUE: HOW TO DEAL WITH NORMAN FORMAT. IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE MINSK PROCESS. WILL OUR DIPLOMACY LOSE OUT TO THE RUSSIAN ONE AND WHAT IS THE MAIN TASK OF UKRAINIAN DIPLOMACY TODAY. READ IN THE NEXT ISSUE IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH VOLODYMYR OHRYZKO UKRAINIAN DIPLOMAT, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF UKRAINE (2007–2009)