Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Hrytsak: Ukraine will become a new Central European tiger
One of Ukraine’s most prominent historians Yaroslav Hrytsak in his interview for Ukrainska Pravda reflects on the role of Ukraine in forming the new world order, how to cure Russia and the misconceptions of Europe:
“This is a war for the future of the world.
This is about creating a new world security system, not just a reform of Europe. The world is global. We have some big global problems: overpopulation, lack of resources, global warming. But no problem poses such a threat to the world as Russia.
The Russian problem is global. But Ukraine is also global now. There will be no separate Ukrainian solution and global solution. On the contrary, the Ukrainian solution will be part of the global solution.”
The history of Europe is a series of crises, not unlike the history of Russia or China. But unlike the other two, every European crisis ends in a solution that is a new direction for the world.
What sets this crisis apart is that Ukraine has finally become part of this solution.“
Yaroslav Hrytsak, historian in interview for Ukrainska Pravda
“The fate of World War I and World War II largely depended on what was happening around Ukraine and in Ukraine. …And we paid a very high price for it. Because those who had control over Ukraine had a better chance of winning the war.
Those were wars for Ukraine, but Ukrainians never had a say. All our attempts to get our voice in the national liberation movement had failed. We were an object, not a subject.
And this time it is different: we are the subject. Moreover, thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, our subjectivity is now growing.”
“This existential threat creates a sense of strong solidarity and love [in Ukraine]. This may sound strange, but Ukraine is now a country of love. We have never loved ourselves and our homeland so much.”
Yaroslav Hrytsak, historian in interview for Ukrainska Pravda
“I believe that [after the war] Ukraine will become the new Central European tiger. It will become a leader in the large region between the Baltic and the Black seas…
This must be the result of purposeful efforts, and significant efforts after our victory.
War is a great catastrophe. But at the same time, it creates great opportunities and makes possible things previously deemed impossible.”
“Behind the ‘great Russian culture’ is always a huge Russian boot. We all know that. By the way, …have you heard of the term ‘great British culture’, or ‘great French culture’? No one uses the word ‘great’ about themselves. Why should only Russian culture be ‘great’?
‘Great Russian culture’ is in various ways connected with the idea of ‘great Russia’ – Russia, which, like a shark in a pond, is cramped within its borders.
Yaroslav Hrytsak, historian in interview for Ukrainska Pravda
“For me, the entry ticket to reconciliation [between Russia and Ukraine] is victory over Putin, putting Putin out of the picture. And we see that the problem is not with Putin. The problem is the collective Putin. And what’s worse, it’s not just a collective Putin, it’s a Putin that keeps coming back.
Russia is not overcoming the past, Russia is sinking deeper and deeper into it, like in a swamp. Russia is an example of how too much history can do harm. When memory becomes not an indication of the future, but a toxic material that draws back into the past.”
“Our main task is to pull Ukrainian history out of the Russian shadow. Against the backdrop of the different contexts of Ukraine’s history, the Russian context looks like one of many, and not even a key one. And Putin’s attempts to monopolize Ukraine’s history look ridiculous, to say the least.
On the other hand, it has to be clear that Ukraine’s past is greater than just Ukraine. Much of what was happening in and around Ukraine impacted the fate of not only Russia, but also Central and Eastern Europe, and sometimes the whole of Europe or even the world.”
Yaroslav Hrytsak, historian in interview for Ukrainska Pravda
“Russia does not have a good scenario [after this war]. Russia has a choice between a bad scenario and an even worse one.
This is a war for the future of the world. Period.”
Yaroslav Hrytsak, historian in interview for Ukrainska Pravda
