Modern Independent Ukraine at 35: Achievements and Problems

On August 24, Ukraine celebrates its Independence Day, marking the 35th anniversary of its restoration of independence. However, it is more accurate to view this as the rebirth of Ukrainian statehood, which can be traced back to the times of Kyivan Rus and was officially affirmed in 1918. The Bouquet Kyiv Stage cultural festival took place in Kyiv ahead of Independence Day, with several discussions held at St. Sophia's Cathedral.

These discussions featured public figures such as Oles Shevchenko, Vadym Prystaiko, Andriy Kurkov, Kira Rudik, Peter Dickinson, and Oleh Shamshur, focusing on the achievements, problems, failures, and prospects of the past 35 years of Ukrainian independence.

Former dissident and political prisoner Oles Shevchenko highlighted the critical moment in August 1991 when the majority in parliament belonged to the pro-government Communist Party. Without their support, declaring independence would have been impossible. Shevchenko also mentioned that August 24, 1991, marked Ukraine's "second" modern declaration of independence, as the first attempt in January 1918 was quickly suppressed by the communist Bolsheviks from Russia.

The discussions touched on Ukraine's main achievements over the past 35 years, including technological advancements, the resilience and vitality of the Ukrainian nation, the development of a distinct cultural sphere from Russia, and rapid economic development. Some argued that Ukraine should focus on its future rather than competing with Russia over historical comparisons. The speaker urged Ukrainians to look towards the future and emphasize that the future belongs to them, rather than dwelling on the past.