Ukraine Deserves Better

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – The Daily Vertical: By Brian Whitmore – February 22, 2016)

Two years ago today, a revolution climaxed.

Two years ago today, a corrupt and incompetent tyrant was deposed.

Two years ago today, a nation’s civil society came of age.

On February 22, 2014, everything seemed possible in Ukraine.

Today, of course, things look quite different.

Much of this can be blamed on Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin, which did everything in its power to deny Ukraine the breathing space it needed to fulfil the goals of the Euromaidan.

Russia’s war on Ukraine in Donbas continues to to sap energy and cost lives.

And Moscow continues to menace and torment Ukraine with economic sanctions, covert operations, propaganda campaigns, and cyberattacks.

But the authorities in Kyiv also bear their share of responsibility.

Efforts to implement structural reforms and root out corruption have stalled.

Cronyism and oligarchic influence remains rampant.

The economy is mired in crisis.

And the pro-Western government in Kyiv is rapidly losing allies and hanging on by a thread.

Given all this, it’s easy to succumb to Ukraine fatigue, to throw up your hands and lament the failure of a democratic revolution.

It might be easy, but it would be a grave mistake.

It would be a mistake because what happens in Ukraine is vital for the survival of the post-Cold War international order. If Ukraine fails, it would prove — in Moscow and elsewhere — that might makes right.

But more importantly, it would be a betrayal of those brave Ukrainians who risked their lives on the Maidan two years ago for the sake of a better future.

Ukrainians are the first nation in history to shed blood for the idea of Europe.

And they deserve better.

Article from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – ©2016 RFE/RL, Inc. Article also appeared at rferl.org/content/article/27566711.html