Ondřej Kundra for Ukraine

"THE INTERNATIONAL BOOK ARSENAL FESTIVAL“  

The contemporary West has either forgotten about Ukraine, or thinks of it as a corrupted, dysfunctional country. Quite a few Czech politicians think so, too, as the last visit of a Czech Prime Minister to Kyiv was many years ago. The lack of interest is remarkable. The safety and prosperity of Ukraine is our national interest, a more frequent communication between Czech politicians and their Ukrainian counterparts would also be a gesture of solidarity with the country undergoing severe hardship. As I was walking through the streets of Kyiv a month ago and talked to many locals, I was ashamed of the Czech political elite’s indifference towards Ukraine. Yes, the reforms have indeed slowed down and together with the pro-European politicians, there are also sneaky ones who have come to power and are trying to replace the former corrupt oligarchs. The struggle for a freer, pro-Western Ukraine is tottery, some people are running out of energy and enthusiasm to continue in it after the Maidan. In this respect, too, it is important to remind Ukrainians that we care about them. We know it well from Communism – it gives you the strength to persevere. When I was in Ukraine, an anti-corruption court was approved. As we know from the Czech Republic, the struggle against the abuse of power is difficult and it took us a long time, too, to get started – and our starting position was way easier. We were not killed in millions by the Stalin-led famine, we are closer to the long-term free countries, we are rich. Even so, some things take an enormously long time to change here. It is of course necessary to ask Ukraine to change, but it needs to be done in a reasonable and realistic manner. On a purely personal note, Kyiv impressed me as always. A vibrant city full of chestnuts, temples and sandy beaches on the untamed Dnieper. Each weekend, the main boulevard is closed for cars, people are strolling and chatting. In Prague, when a part of the embankment was to be closed once a year, it was a big fuss and it seemed like an impossible task logistically. Let’s just recall this once someone calls Ukrainians unadvanced again.

Kyiv 2018