Moscow’s Anti-Ukrainian Hatred Targets Kids’ TV Program

It’s hard to imagine for us in the free world that the cancelation of a children’s television program could signal a deep, sinister, pathological hatred of a people. But when you consider Russian policies regarding Ukraine for more than a millennia, then you comprehend it quite clearly.

We of my generation – baby boomers – in the American diaspora did not grow up with the affable television personality Did Panas (Grandfather Panas). His career was yet another striking example of Russia’s wide-ranging, never ending efforts to destroy everything Ukrainian. And if Moscow couldn’t do it with a bullet, it would devise other methods of burying Ukrainians.

This example also shows the age-old degree of Ukrainian national awareness that is most threatening to Russia because it reemerges like the proverbial phoenix. The annals of Ukrainian independence are not only filled with battlefield freedom fighters and human rights dissidents, but also Captain Kangaroo type characters who entertain and enlighten children.

Did Panas, dressed in a Ukrainian embroidered shirt, narrated a 15-minute Ukrainian-language goodnight children’s program at a time when it was frowned upon to speak Ukrainian in public. For 24 seasons, from 1964-1988, he told Ukrainian folk stories to kids who were glued to their TV sets, listening, learning and laughing at his tales. To borrow from Mykola Mikhnovsky, the late 19^th century Ukrainian national ideologue, his program was highly popular from the Karpaty to the Kavkaz. Consequently, Did Panas and his program were targeted for cancelation by the Kremlin junta. Speaking Ukrainian to children who would then speak Ukrainian to their classmates and so on and so forth was deemed a surreptitious way of fostering Ukrainian nationalism.

A Jew by heritage who was born Pinchus Chayimovych Veskler, Did Panas stubbornly refused to learn to speak Russian, feigning intellectual inability to master the language.

Despite pulling the plug on the show several times, nationwide clamor by Ukrainian viewers forced the programmers to bring it back. But Moscow can’t be beaten when it sets its mind to a mission regardless of how diabolical.

Its technicians in the audio editing room inserted a vulgarity into his parting lines and it went on the air. Did Panas was accused of corrupting the morals of minors and his Ukrainian-language program immediately cut to black.

Moscow won that round, but, fortunately, it ultimately lost the match.

Sentsov in NYC: Opposition to Russia

Continues due to Putin’s Aggression

Former Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov addresses Ukrainian Americans in New York City.

Despite torrential rain last Saturday, several hundred Ukrainian Americans filled the hall in the Ukrainian National Home in New York City to hear a former Ukrainian political prisoner divert the free world’s attention from fake Ukrainian-leading topics to real issues pertaining to Ukraine — how to persevere and survive in the face of Russia’s unrelenting war.

Oleg Sentsov, a 43-year-old cinematographer from today’s Russian-occupied Crimea, was released on September 7, 2019, after spending some five years in the still active polar network of infamous Russian concentration camps for opposing Vladimir Putin’s aggression against his homeland.

The soft-spoken but still fiercely dogged Ukrainian patriot, Sentsov told the supportive audience at the assembly that was organized by the contemporary Ukrainian NGO Razom that Putin’s imperial policies compel Ukrainians to continue their opposition.

With Ukraine continuously dragged into hopeless Minsk negotiations about returning peace to Ukraine and the region, Sentsov pointed out their broad unreliability, emphasizing that nothing positive for Ukraine will be forthcoming. The reason is Putin’s dishonesty and belligerent intentions, he said.

Ukraine and its allies cannot negotiate in good faith with Putin’s Russia because the achievement of peace is impossible, Sentsov elaborated in halting Ukrainian. He clearly accentuated that peace is not Putin’s goal but rather he intends to destroy Ukrainian independence and return Ukraine to its previous colonial existence in Russia’s prison of nations.

Ukraine cannot give in to Russia so our opposition continues, he emphasized.

Sentsov was sentenced on August 25, 2015, to 20 years imprisonment on trumped up charges of setting up a branch of a “terrorist group” and organizing “terrorist acts” in April 2014. In reality, his crime in the eyes of Moscow was to fervently oppose Russia’s invasion and occupation of Crimea and its persecution of Crimean Tatars and others. His conviction in a military court in Russia followed a grossly unfair trial, on politically-motivated charges, and was based on “confessions” obtained through torture. During his arrest by the Russian State Security (FSB), he was tortured by FSB by putting a plastic bag over his head until he passed out. They also threatened him with rape and murder, which forced Sentsov to “confess” to organizing explosions, acts of terrorism, and illegal possession of firearms.

He became the subject of a global defense campaign and earned the support of Amnesty International and PEN. On May 14, 2018, Sentsov declared an indefinite hunger strike until all Ukrainian political prisoners were released in Russia. Sentsov ended his hunger strike after 145 days, citing the “critical state of his health” and the impending threat of hospitalization and force-feeding. He lost more than 30 kg. Two weeks later, on October 25, 2018, Sentsov was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought from the European Parliament.

Sentsov was ultimately freed last year and flown along with 34 other freed prisoners to Kyiv on Sept. 7. Some 300 remain in Russian prisons, he reminded the crowd.

In his first appearance in Lviv, Sentsov was quoted by The New York Times as calling Putin’s mission to make Russia great again by embracing the corpse of Soviet power “political necrophilia.” He also said at the time “By blood and language, I am totally Russian. By birth, I am Crimean. But by spirit, I am Ukrainian. That is the most important.”

At yesterday’s rally, Sentsov said the Revolution of Dignity on Maidan was an epiphany for many Ukrainians who took to heart massive national insurrection’s historical importance. Russia’s invasion of Crimea and eastern Ukraine showed Russia’s true face, he said. Consequently, he and millions of others in Ukraine understood that they were Ukrainians.

He recalled that on Maidan the fighters comprehended that they were fighting for Ukraine under the Ukrainian flag for the future of their country.

The emotions and passions that gelled as a result of Maidan led Sentsov to believe that Russia will never defeat Ukraine. This is our country and we have to fight for it, he said.

Despite current critical opinions about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sentsov noted that he doesn’t enjoy the favor of the Russian president. Putin, he said, would rather see as president of Ukraine someone like Viktor Medvechuk, a known supporter of the Russian leader’s policies.

The Russo-Ukraine War of 2014-2020 is taking its toll on the nation, as Sentsov pointed out that the costly battle is getting deadlier. The price for safeguarding Ukrainian independence and freedom is steep. He said some 14,000 Ukrainians have paid the price with their lives for defending their country.

However, returning to his earlier affirmation, Sentsov pointed out that the free world, NATO, the European Union and the United States will never really get involved in this battle. They don’t want to help. So, Ukrainians are left to help themselves, echoing the mantra of Irish revolutionaries and freedom fighters “sinn fein.”

As for the mission beyond the borders of Ukraine, he urged Ukrainians to continue what they’re doing for their families and Ukraine to prevail against Russian aggression, he urged.

Останній антикомуніст

Беручи до уваги поведінку сьогоднішнього Президента США Дональда Трампа відносно диктатора Росії Путіна, дозвольте мені запросити Вас прочитати мою статтю про останнього дійсного антикомуністичного американського президента Республіканської Партії Рональда Рейгена, який віддійшов у вічність у 2004 р. Ця стаття появилася в тому році у діяспорій газеті «Національній Трибуні».

5-го червня 2004 р., на 93-му році життя після десятилітньої хвороби, відійшов у вічність останній правдивий, щирий антикомуніст. Покійний Рональд Рейген, 40-ий Президент Сполучених Штатів Америки, який ніколи не пережив на власному досвіді лихоліття комуністичного тоталітаризму, цілим серцем і цілою душею вірив, що не було і не може бути нічого гіршого в історії людства, ніж комунізм і все, що він спотворив, а саме - Комуністична партія, Союз Радянських Соціалістичних Республік (читай - московська імперія) – та всі його провідники, прихильники та вислужники.

Це переконання, яке мало свою міцну підставу в його родинному, морально-релігійному вихованні, перепліталося з його цілим життєвим шляхом. Проте, здобувши посаду Президента США, Рональд Рейген точно зрозумів, що він може видвигати свою антикомуністичну політику кожного дня, добре знаючи, що аудиторія, ні прихильна, ні ворожа, не зможе вирвати від нього його визвольну платформу.

Будучи завжди людиною лагідного та жартівливого настрою, Рональд Рейген часто пояснював своїм політичним співпрацівникам, прихильникам та друзям, що не існує легкої відповіді на будь-яке запитання, є лише проста відповідь, яку необхідно знайти для успішнього вирішення будь-якого питання. Ось приклад. Члени його президентської адміністрації та політичні дорадники знали про його ненависть до комунізму і до всього, що зв”язане з ним. Вони навіть підтримували його в цьому. Але вони намагалися йому пояснити, що його Адміністрація потребує суттєву стратегію, за допомогою якої він зможе здобути прихильників і здійснити свій намір знищити комунізм.

Не схвильовано, а точніше - в притаманному йому лагідному способі, Рональд Рейген заспокоював своїх друзів, запевняючи їх, що в нього є стратегія, і вона проста: „Ми виграємо, вони програють, і то все”!

Рональд Рейген, американський патріот ірландського походження,  в молодості займався легкою атлетикою та плаванням, потім був радіо-журналістом, а згодом - кіноактором, що принесло йому найбільшу славу, перш, ніж він вирушив на політичний шлях. Покинувши Демократичну партію і ставши членом Республіканської партії, Рональд Рейген успішно кандидував на посаду губернатора штату Каліфорнії. Він двічі зазнав поразки в спробі стати Президентом США, але в 1980 р. світ побачив Рональда Рейгена господарем Білого Дому у Вашінгтоні.

Залізний ідеаліст, Рональд Рейген вміло поєднував свій ідеалізм зі своїм простим, не науково-філософським підходом до життя. Під кінець свого терміну в Білому Домі, в 1987 р., на запитання, як можна розпізнати комуніста, він слушно пояснив: „Комуніст, це той, хто читає Маркса і Леніна. Але, антикомуніст, це той, хто розуміє Маркса і Леніна”.

Після його повернення до приватного життя, а особливо - після його смерті, політологи та навіть звичайні люди, аналізуючи його політику, застановлятимуться, чи Рональд Рейген дійсно сам, як легендарний каменяр, розвалив Радянську імперію і визволив поневолені Москвою народи СРСР та Східної Європи, включно з українським. Неважливо, чи історія присудить Рональду Рейгену цю золоту сану чи ні. Важливіше, що знайшлася відповідна постать, на відповідній посаді, в відповідному часі, яка своїми настирливими, проникливо гострими антикомуністичними заявами, висловленими з амбони Білого Дому, почала розхитувати цю неморальну імперію та ідеологію, на якій вона була побудована.

Одночасно, треба зрозуміти, що його антикомуністичні почуття не були базовані лише на негативних пристрастях проти однієї ідеології. Рональд Рейген вірив у верховенство людини, в свободу людини, суспільства і народу, в якому вона живе. Виступаючи перед студентами американського університету Нотр-Дам в 1981 р., Рональд Рейген сказав, що наступні роки будуть славними і важливми для Америки, з огляду питання свободи та поширення цивілізації.  „Захід не обмежить комунізм, він його перевершить. Ми не старатимемося засудити його, а точніше - ми відкинено його, як сумний, звивехнений розділ людської історії, останні сторінки якої пишуться саме зараз”.

А студентам Московського Державного Університету в 1981 р. він так пояснив своє бачення свободи: „Свобода – це право пояснювати і змінювати прийнятий спосіб поведінки. Це – тривала революція ринку. Це – розуміння як впізнавати недоліки і шукати розв”язку”.

Виступаючи в Бритійському Парляменті, Рональд Рейген не знімив свою просту думку про свободу людини та народу: „Саме Радянський Союз – це течія, яка пливе проти історії. Марш свободи і демократії залишить марксизм і ленінізм на смітнику історії так, як вона залишила інших тиранів, які приголмшували свободу і накладали намордники на самовиявлення народу.”

І так 40-ий Президент США виповів війну комунізмові та Радянському Союзу. Але це не була кривава війна на жорстокому полі бою, вкритому трупами молодих вояків, а морально-духовна війна ідей, ідеологій, добра проти зла. Рональд Рейген навіки охрестив колишній СРСР імперією зла. Промовляючи на зібранні Національної Асоціації Євангелистів в Америці в березні 1983 р., Президент Рейген сказав: „Будьмо обережні, коли ми чуємо, що радянські керівники проповідують верховенство держави, заявляють про її перевагу над людиною і передбачують її панування над всіма народами світу. Насправді вони – приціл зла в модерному світі. Я звертаюся до вас з проханням: будьте обережні, не спокусіться! Ігнорувати історичні факти та агресивні наміри імперії зла, просто називаючи збройні перегони великим непорозумінням, виключає вас із боротьби добра проти зла”.

Навіть коли він намагався домовитися з Президентом СРСР Міхаїлом Горбачовим про скорочення ядерної зброї, Рональд Рейген бачив, що сама відсутність такої зброї масового винищування не принесе довгоочікувану свободу, незалежність та демократію поневоленим народам та мир людству. Під час нарад в Женеві Рональд Рейген мужньо заявив М. Горбачову: „Дозвольте мені сказати вам, чому ми вам не довіряємо”. Стоячи біля Берлінської Стіни, в 1987 р. він проголосив виклик намісникові Леніна і Сталіна: „Якщо ви шукаєте мир і добробут для Радянського Союзу і Східної Європи, підійдіть до цієї брами. Пане Горбачов, відкрийте цю браму. Пане Горбачов, розваліть цю стіну!”

В очах української діаспори в Америці, Рональд Рейген, як найважливіша політична фігура не тільки в США, а в цілому світі, начебто рівнявся з св. Юрієм - Переможцем, який боровся проти хижого змія. До нього були декілька президентів, які, залежно від часу та політичних пристрастей, по-різному відносилися до СРСР і поневолення України та інших народів Східної Європи. Тоді, коли відносини між Вашінгтоном і Москвою були кращі, вони відкрито не таврували московську імперію, хоча вони були зобов”язані підтримувати прагнення до незалежності тих народів у щорічній президентській проклямації відзначення Тижня Поневолених Народів, яке припадало в липні. Рональд Рейген постійно однаково відносився до комунізму та СРСР.

Відзначення Тижня Поневолених Народів було постійною гострою голкою в середині імперіалістичного ока Москви, і її генсеки часто домагалися від американських державних провідників усунення цього, на їхню думку, непотрібного закону. На щастя, ніхто з Президентів не відважився цього зробити.

Правдоподібно, проклямації підписані Президентом Рейгеном та його вступні заяви, були найзмістовніші з всіх подібних заяв від 1960 р., коли цей обряд був закарбований в законі. І чому ж би ні? Він краще всіх чітко розумів комунізм, московську імперію та історичне прагнення до незалежности українського та інших поневолених народу.

На відзначені Тижня Поневолених Народів, яке відбулося в Білому Домі, 19-го липня 1983 р., у присутності Достойного Ярослава Стецька, голови Українського Державного Правління і голови Проводу Організації Українських Націоналістів, Президент Рейген висловив свою найяскравішу особисту і державну підтримку поневоленим народам, сказвши: „Сьогодні ми розмовляємо з усіма народами Східної Європи, які є відокремлені від своїх рідних і близьких огидною залізною завісою. І кожній людині, яка є скута тиранією, чи то в Україні, Угорщині, Чехословачинні, Кубі чи В”єтнамі, ми надсилаємо вам нашу любов, нашу підтримку і запевняємо вас, що ви – не самі. Наше сповіщання вам є, що ваша боротьба є нашою боротьбою, ваші мрії є нашими мріями, колись ви також будете вільними! Так, як Папа Павло Іван сказав своїм улюбленим полякам, ми – благословенні божественною спадщиною. Ми – Божі діти, і ми не можемо бути рабами”!

Вісім років минуло, поки слова Рональда Рейгена стали дійсністю. Радянський Союз розвалився, і український народ став вільним, незалежним.

Президент Рейген також виявляв свою дотепність, навіть відносно таких серйозних питань, як його віра в перемогу над комунізмом і розвал Радянського Союзу. Одного дня в 1984 р. Президент Рейген мав необережність перевірити мікрофони перед його радіовиступом такою заявою: „Мої співвітчизники, американці. Я радий повідомити вас, що я підписав закон, який унезаконив Росію навіки. Бомбардування розпочнеться протягом п”яти хвилин”.

Дав би Бог, щоб в пам”ять останнього антикомуніста, імперія зла навіки була унезаконнена, і людству не буде потрібен черговий антикомуніст.

Celebrating Ukrainian Soldiers’ Skills & Spirit

Today’s Ukrainian solider is accumulating unique battlefield experience that should make him and her the envy of any country’s armed forces. It should also make their skills a desirable commodity for American and NATO armies.

Ukrainian soldiers are the only ones in history to have learned on the battlefield not classroom how to engage invading Russian troops in battle and succeed.

For five years, Ukrainian soldiers have been fighting against the biggest war machine in history. Russia invaded eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the spring of 2014 and in the first days of the war a ragtag Ukrainian army confronted a well-financed, trained and equipped Russian military corps of murderers.

In time and patiently, former President Petro Poroshenko, Minister of Defense Gen. Stepan Poltorak and the field commanders built a mighty, well-trained, well-armed and dedicated army of fighting men and women. Yes, they suffered combat losses but they also managed to stop the Russian invaders and their secessionist lackeys from advancing beyond the eastern oblasts. Today, they deserve complete victory against Russia; they should be given the opportunity to expel Russian invaders back to Russia – not an endless, deadly truce.

It has been observed that Ukrainians are very good soldiers and even those who served in the Soviet Army were very good soldiers. I heard this observation enough times not to overlook it. Why were they thought of as very good soldiers even in the Soviet Army?

I turned to a friend in Ukraine for an explanation. He hails from a typical Ukrainian village in the Ternopil region, a veteran, an airborne officer of the rank of colonel who completed the USSR’s top airborne school in Ryazan – Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School.

“As for the Soviet Army, I will say the following: from my own experience, almost half of the students of the military schools were from Ukraine (then still part of the USSR). They studied well, and then served appropriately well. And not only the junior officers but also those in the highest ranks. Personally, I reached the rank of commander of battalion headquarters – 420 personnel, plus 66 officers, NCOs with more than 30 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles. The reason why it was like that was quite simple. A Ukrainian, by nature, and according to a warrior's genes, fought his whole life and history. He wasn’t a stupid soldier. We did not crawl out of Muscovite swamps. This is to say that a real Muscovite is a moron and a predator. Yes, throughout their lives, from the Middle Ages and perhaps earlier, they liquidated the intelligent and smart, because it is easier to control halfwits. They managed to destroy the officer elite after the October revolution, civil war and red terror. Those who managed, escaped to diaspora, that the educated ones, officers, were quietly destroyed the Cheka, as our Petliura, Konovalets, Bandera, Rebet, and many others.”

Hopefully, the President Zelensky, Defense Minister Poltorak and Chief of Staff Gen. Ruslan Khomchak – as well as US and NATO allies – will give Ukrainian soldiers the moral and materiel support to expel Russian invaders from Donbas and Crimea.

With ‘Glory to Ukraine,’ President Zelensky Alludes to 2 US Presidents

The sixth President of independent Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, with the bulava – Ukraine’s symbol of presidential authority securely in his fist – didn’t shun the heroic “Glory to Ukraine” as he summoned the nation to do its utmost so that the words of the message are heard around the world and not just in Ukraine.

Calling on Ukrainians from east to west to join him in making it a better Ukraine, Zelensky in his inaugural today cited two American presidents without referring to them by name: John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

“Now, imagine the headlines: ‘The President Does Not Pay Taxes,’ ‘The Intoxicated President Ran the Red Light’ or ‘The President Is Quietly Stealing Because Everyone Does.’ Would you agree that it’s shameful? This is what I mean when I say that each of us is the President. From now on, each of us is responsible for the country that we leave to our children. Each of us, in his place, can do everything for the prosperity of Ukraine,” Zelensky said in a speech that began in Ukrainian and concluded in Russian.

Pointing out the commonality of today’s Ukrainian national mission, Zelensky harkened back to Kennedy’s famous inaugural remark that still rings true today: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Toward the end of his speech, Zelensky also said “Allow me to quote one American actor who has become a great American president: ‘The government does not solve our problems. The government is our problem.’” Though slightly different from Ronald Reagan’s inaugural observation that “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem,” the message is well taken.

Zelensky’s version of national cohesion also applies to the defenders of the nation. He observed: “I know that from the soldiers who are now defending Ukraine, our heroes, some of whom are Ukrainian-speakers, while others — Russian-speakers. There, in the frontline, there is no strife and discord, there is only courage and honor.” Indeed, Ukrainian and Russian-speaking Ukrainians, Christians and non-Christians, adults and students, and men and women defended Ukraine in the Revolution of Dignity.

In a quirky appeal to the nation, Zelensky told all Ukrainians that each one of them is president and shares the responsibility for the future of the country and nation. “Because each of us is the President. Not just the 73% who voted for me, but all 100% of Ukrainians. This is not just mine, this is our common victory. And this is our common chance that we are responsible for together. It hasn’t been only me who has just taken the oath. Each of us has just put his hand on the Constitution and swore allegiance to Ukraine.”

That statement alone should remind Ukrainians today and tomorrow to stop squawking when things go wrong but get up and do something about it. The buck doesn’t stop in the President’s Office.

He emphasized inclusivity of the country and equality of all regions that will help the nation overcome current and future adversity. “Because each of us is a Ukrainian. We are all Ukrainians: there are no bigger or lesser, or correct or incorrect Ukrainians. From Uzhhorod to Luhansk, from Chernihiv to Simferopol, in Lviv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipro and Odesa — we are Ukrainians. And we have to be one.  After all, only then we are strong.”

Turning to Ukrainians scattered to the four corners of the world, he beseeched them to return to their homeland and work for its betterment, while offering all of them Ukrainian citizenship. “Today I appeal to all Ukrainians in the world. There are 65 millions of us. Yes, don’t be surprised: there are 65 million of us — those born on the Ukrainian soil. Ukrainians in Europe and Asia, in North and South America, Australia and Africa — I appeal to all Ukrainians on the planet.

“We really need you. To all who are ready to build a new, strong and successful Ukraine, I will gladly grant Ukrainian citizenship. You must come to Ukraine not to visit, but to return home. We are waiting for you. There is no need to bring souvenirs from abroad, but please, bring your knowledge, experience and values.”

Quite dramatically, he said that being a Ukrainian is not a line in a passport but it’s a feeling and belief in the heart. This concept has served as the foundation of all Ukrainians, those in the diaspora and in the native land since, since the earliest days of Ukraine’s subjugation.

Zelensky expressed hope about ending the war with Russia but, obviously he didn’t say how he would accomplish that goal that has eluded not only his predecessor but also other world leaders for five years due to Moscow’s ongoing belligerence.

“But we also share a common pain. Each of us has died in the Donbas,” he said.

Zelensky praised the heroic soldiers defending the country against foreign aggressors, noting that he is ready to do everything in his power to bring a ceasefire to Donbas.

“History is unfair. We are not the ones who have started this war. But we are the ones who have to finish it. And we are ready for dialogue. I believe that the perfect first step in this dialogue will be the return of all Ukrainian prisoners,” Zelensky said. The new President of Ukraine must be made to understand that any form of dialogue cannot mean surrendering one hectare of land or one POW to Russia.

However, he said he is aware that the end of the war cannot happen without returning occupied regions of Ukraine.

“Our next challenge is returning the lost territories. In all honesty, this wording does not seem entirely correct to me because it is impossible to return what has always been ours. Both Crimea and Donbas have been our Ukrainian land, but the land where we have lost the most important thing — the people,” he said.

Zelensky committed himself to improving the livelihood of Ukrainian soldiers which includes decent, and most importantly, secure salaries, living conditions, vacation leaves after the combat missions and family holidays. “We must not just talk about NATO standards — we must create those standards,” he declared, implying that he hasn’t rejected the Atlantic alliance.

Turning to Ukraine’s internal problems, Zelensky listed dealing with shocking utility tariffs, humiliating wages and pensions, painful prices and non-existent jobs. “There is also the health care that is seen as improving mostly by those who have never been to a regular hospital with their child. And then, there are also the mythical Ukrainian roads that are being built and repaired only in someone’s prolific imagination,” he said.

Shunning an actor’s fondness for publicity, in his inaugural address he demonstrated modesty by imploring the people not to display the president’s photograph. “This is why I really do not want my pictures in your offices, for the President is not an icon, an idol or a portrait. Hang your kids’ photos instead, and look at them each time you are making a decision,” he said.

Zelensky stated he is disbanding the Verkhovna Rada, but gave the parliamentarians a two-month reprieve to approve the following:

1. The law on removing parliamentary immunity.

2. The law establishing criminal liability for illegal enrichment.

3. The long-awaited Electoral Code and open-lists.

Also, please dismiss:

1. Head of the Security Service of Ukraine.

2. Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

3. Minister of Defense of Ukraine.

I wasn’t a fan of Zelensky during the presidential campaign but his inaugural address is better than expected. He still has a lot to learn but actors, after all, are trained to read a script.

Final Thoughts about the Poroshenko Presidency

The Presidency of Petro Poroshenko served a significant purpose in Ukrainian history. It served as a transition from hopefully the last vestiges of Russian domination of Ukraine exemplified by the criminal Viktor Yanukovych to the leadership of a younger generation of Ukrainians – unknown and untested.

On Monday, May 20, a new President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, will be sworn in as the sixth president of Ukraine in a peaceful transition equal to that of the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Poroshenko was not blessed with an easy period or task in Ukraine’s evolution from a captive nation to a powerful, self-confident independent European country. Corruption strangled Ukraine and the people while perennial enemy Russia launched an all-out war against the nation in a major push to re-subjugate it. He had to fulfill his mission while keeping peace among the people inside the country’s borders.

“Change of power is a sign of our belonging to European civilization. We have kept democracy even in the face of Russian aggression,” President Poroshenko in his farewell message to the nation this weekend.

Despite cynical observations by friends and foes about Ukraine, the nation demonstrated civic and political maturity in its peaceful change of power. An enviable trait at any time by a country that has been independent for only 28 years.

Poroshenko continued: “The country did not just survive. It is in a better condition today than five years ago, and this is evidenced by the main statistical indicators. This was achieved only by joint efforts, thanks to the support of the active part of society and the understanding of the majority.”

He bowed to Ukrainian soldiers defending the country against Russian invaders saying “We saved Ukraine, Novorossiia was buried. The aggressor, much stronger than us, stopped. They created an army that became one of the strongest on the continent. Relying on an international pro-Ukrainian coalition, it reliably holds the defense in the East.”

Indeed. The Ukrainian army’s combat skill sets cannot be denied. Friends and foes alike must take note of the Ukrainian military in time of peace and war.

Diplomatically, Poroshenko pointed out that Ukraine “won the diplomatic battle for ratification of the Association Agreement and reoriented the economy to the European Union. The turnover between Ukraine and the EU has more than doubled. And in general, we have never been so close to NATO and the European Union. Including through the absence of a visa, which operates on June 11, 2017.”

He expressed his hope that the Zelensky Administration will continue following this course. The Ukrainian nation, regardless of electing him president, declared in a recent poll that it overwhelmingly favors the NATO and EU courses for its homeland.

“In parallel with the movement towards Europe, we also strengthened our Ukrainian identity. This is his own policy of historical memory, and de-communism. This is Tomos (Ukrainian Orthodox independence), which we received at the beginning of the year. This is the law on the Ukrainian language, as soon as I signed it,” he said.

Acknowledging his shortcomings and failures, Poroshenko gallantly stated “In fact, once again I apologize to everyone whose hopes did not come true; for whom reforms were particularly painful; who in those years, met with untruth, did not find justice. Already explained: even if one believes that the President can do everything, he cannot all at once.”

Turning to tomorrow, the current President of Ukraine told the incoming President of Ukraine: “Volodymyr Zelensky, I wish a successful presidency. A month ago, we were protesters in the election. But tomorrow, it happened, he will be the president of my native country. The countries that I love and whose faith in Europe is firmly believed. So let the Lord take care of Ukraine, and its new leader - helps in work.”

President Poroshenko also left the nation his thoughts about future generations of Ukrainians and their education. In an separate edict about On the Strategy of National-Patriotic Education, he emphasized the importance “of further development in the society of national consciousness, the formation of a sense of patriotism on the principles of spirituality and morality, popularization of the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people, as well as the enhancement of interaction between state authorities, local self-government bodies and public associations in matters of national-patriotic education.”

Without trivializing corruption, the world should look at Ukraine as a totality of Ukrainian patriots building a democratic nation that will be at least equal if not better than others in the global community. Ukraine should be reckoned with by friends and foes.

No small shoes for Zelensky to fill.

Ukraine at UN Warns against Russian Nuclearization of Occupied Crimea

Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko of Ukraine warned the international community of the growing global danger of Russia’s deployment of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in occupied Crimea.

Speaking at the United Nations today, Yelchenko, the permanent representative of Ukraine, cited violations of international accords in denouncing what Ukraine considers destabilizing moves by Moscow.

However, Yelchenko noted that Ukraine continues to support the establishment of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones worldwide.

Pointing out the direct threat to Ukraine of Russia’s militarization of the Crimean peninsula, Yelchenko said the state-signatories to the memorandum regarding Ukraine’s denuclearization “reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine to respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine”, as well as “reaffirmed their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine.”

He said in an era of looming proliferation threats as well as efforts to quell security concerns of states seeking nuclear deterrent capabilities, the validity of the Budapest Memorandum is especially vital.

Yelchenko declared that the brutal violation of the international obligations, including under the Budapest Memorandum, by Russia, a nuclear-weapon state and a permanent UN Security Council member, has undermined the whole UN-based security system.

“We are deeply concerned with this situation given the fact of increasing militarization of the occupied Crimea by the occupying state, including developing Russian nuclear capabilities in this area,” he said.

Citing UN resolution 73/194, Yelchenko said “I would like to recall, in particular, para 1 of this resolution which stresses that ‘the presence of Russian troops in Crimea is contrary to the national sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and undermines the security and stability of neighboring countries and the European region.’

“In para 2 of the same resolution the GA expressed ‘its grave concern over the progressive militarization of Crimea by the Russian Federation as the occupying Power, and also expressed concern over reports of the continuing destabilization of Crimea owing to transfers by the Russian Federation of weapon systems, including nuclear-capable aircraft and missiles, weapons, ammunition and military personnel to the territory of Ukraine, and urges the Russian Federation to stop such activity.’”

In addition to Russia’s global aggression, imperial “passportization” of citizens, unrestrained adventurism and militaristic hooliganism, the free world has to deal with Moscow’s nuclear expansion in occupied Crimea and the Black Sea. Will it grant Russia a free pass on this crime as well?