Original article in Ukrainian by Vitali Klitschko, for UP

Translated by Eugene Ivantsov

My mobile phone is an indicator of people’s interest to Ukraine.

From fall 2004 to January 2005 it was practically impossible to reach me over the phone. For half a year I was besieged with questions from my friends and thousands of people I barely knew.

Later on the number of calls was gradually decreasing. Now, my mobile phone rings only in case another scandal involving Ukrainian politicians breaks out, and only in case this scandal gets on the world news.

The voices are deprived of former optimism. My phone has been dead for the past months. The world takes no interest in Ukraine any more.

The reason is disappointment that followed numerous domestic problems we have so unexpectedly puzzled trustful Europeans with.

If foreigners ask me questions about Ukraine, they normally ask it in a ‘when-will-this-chaos-end?’ context.

At the forum in Davos people kept asking me the same questions in the same manner.

Describing the political situation I replied: In 15 years Ukraine has gone through reforms and processes Europeans used to spend decades for.

Indeed, from philosophical point of view, apart from personalities and political intrigues, our country distinguishes by the political system.

Sooner or later every country has to go through this.

Some countries had to go through such processes several times. In the post-war France presidential authority was enlarged and then limited, depending on the situation in the country.

Now Ukraine faces the height of the fight for authority between the President, the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers.

At that, according to the new Constitution and Darwin’s theory, the latter are natural allies. The political evolution suggests that this process is going to end someday. There are no voids in the politics.

These hollows will be filled either with the President, the Verkhovna Rada or the Cabinet. But the bottom line is what price the society needs to pay for this?

The world remembers not only Charles de Gaulle but also mass protests of the students in France.

On the other hand any digression to philosophy in no way justifies mistakes made by Ukrainian politicians.

What makes these wise experienced people step on the same rake all over again?

Why does any smallest challenge turn into a crisis in this country?

Why do Ukrainian officials sacrifice Ukraine’s international image for the sake of their own ambitions. Is it OK when foreign ministers of other countries nearly poke finger at their Ukrainian colleague?

So, who is to blame? And what to do?

I think this collision of interests is the result of absence of any strategy for the development of Ukraine. In fact, it is misunderstanding of what this strategy should look like. We all grew up in the USSR.

We have all read about Yaroslav Mudryi, Princess Olha, Peter I and Yekateryna II.

As a rule, their subordinates did not understand the nature of reforms which could cause even riots and bloodshed. However, all of them had the gift of strategic thinking.

Wars for access to seas, erection of new cities, resettlement of millions of people, development of metallurgy and investments into education were all stages of one single Plan.

They had no need in cheap popularity and building up a happy future sacrificing lives of thousands. That is why they were leaders. That is why they became part of history.

There are modern examples as well. Whatever you may say about ‘bolsheviks’ they had the gift of strategic vision. That is why they were the winners in the revolutionary chaos of 1917.

Military Communism did not bring any expected breakthroughs. On the other hand it saved the dying economy of the country. NEP, collectivization, electrification and industrialization were fully implemented by the Soviet government.

Maybe this policy helped Soviet economy survive even when most of the European territory was occupied by fascist Germany.

Marshall Plan, Margaret Thatcher’s reforms, Polish ‘shock therapy’ were also publicly declared and gradually implemented strategies.

And what are we doing now?

Talking to Europeans we utter some words which are absolutely meaningless for us. Why say ‘eurointergation’ if we do not have any idea what it is in fact?

The problem is that politicians do not offer and voters do not demand any plan of Ukraine’s strategic development. The society lives in a vicious circle of ‘promises-paltry dole-votes’

Any Ukrainian politician can just say the following words about Ukraine: “We will have a better life.”

The society also bears as much responsibility for the country as the politicians. People are ready to vote for trifling UAH 50.

When have never bothered asking politicians what strategy they offer. In what way are they going to carry it out?

That is why European politicians are not interested in talking to their Ukrainian colleagues.

We still dream of eternal virtual promises: improvement of your lives, triumphal spring, ‘non-betrayal of Maidan’, building up Europe in Ukraine (pre-election slogans of different Ukrainian parties; translator’s remark), election fraud and bribes.

We are not from the other planet for Europeans. We are from another Galaxy.

In fact, Ukraine has something to offer Europe. EU needs to expand in the eastern direction since such an expansion will approach Europe to the foundation of a modern economy – oil and gas.

Now, the stability in energy market is rather shaky.

However, just like in domino effect, any accident, any ill-considered step may turn this stability into chaos. Ukraine as a transit country is very influential in this sense.

That is why both Russia and Europe are interested in Ukraine’s stability.

We can offer Europe a wide range of energy supplies to Ukraine, building up new transit pipelines, oriented to Asia. An energy-independent Ukraine will become the most reliable transit partner.

At that, Europeans do not need to directly invest in Ukraine. Engineering solutions and political support would be enough. Lots of people understand the situation in Ukraine but are reluctant to undertake anything.

At best politicians are trying to get away with declarations. As a result both Russia and Europe are giving up on us. They intend to build a pipeline through Baltic Sea.

However, an energy sector is only part of the strategy.

The society is still not aware what kind of economy we are developing? What are Ukraine’s advantages to other countries? Are we joining EU and what for? Do we want a union with Russia?

Top brains of the country are constantly stating the absence of a national idea that can unite the society. Maybe there is no need to invent anything? Maybe it is enough to put in words and implement the strategy of the national development and to persuade and encourage people with new values?

Yet, we have nothing of this. Ukrainian politicians are too fond of arguing to think of the more important strategic things.

Referring to metaphors, foreign policy may be compared with boxing where a more skilled, well-prepared and smart puncher wins.

It is the one who has a different strategy for different fights. Ukrainian politics resembles a fight of street gangs where young punks want to knock out a tooth, humiliate and squelch but in no way to find out the strongest one.

What should we hope for in such a situation? Fist of all it is a new generation of young politicians with different values. I believe in people for whom noble ideas are more important than offices.

This generation has been born already. It is knocking on the door of Ukrainian politics.

People who achieved everything themselves will succeed in life just because they do not owe anything to anybody.

I believe in Ukraine. Sooner or later it will manage to rise from knees. We are able to make happen sooner.

Vitali Klitschko, for UP