On the seventh anniversary of the 2019 presidential elections, Petro Poroshenko called on the authorities to abandon populism and unite society in pursuit of victory and the development of the state. He emphasized that Ukraine needs genuine, not declarative, unity, public discussion, a strong economy, and a plan for achieving peace.
“Seven years is quite enough time for all emotions to have settled. And enough to finally look at ourselves honestly and answer the question: what has happened to the country during this time? We talk a lot about the war, the front line, and support from partners. And we speak much less about something else – the state of the state. Because the truth is, today, Ukraine is not just fighting. It is a country that is exhausted. Humanly, economically, institutionally. And the first step to recovery is honesty,” said the fifth President in a video address.
“Seven years ago, in bright television formats, society was looking for simple answers to complex questions. And that was understandable. Because people wanted and believed in justice, in quick changes, and in peace, after all, and we all heard a very familiar promise back then: that complex things could be made simple. That it was enough to change the faces, and the system would change. That the state is something like an app that can be ‘updated’ overnight. As it turned out, the state is not a smartphone. And a ‘reboot’ here sometimes costs significantly more than a new screen. But some things cannot be simplified. The state is one of them. And today we must say this directly: there are no simple solutions, no lying. There are responsible solutions,” says Poroshenko.
“We stood our ground. And that is a huge achievement. But standing one’s ground does not mean recovering. And it definitely does not mean long-term success. Standing one’s ground is like surviving a storm. But that doesn’t mean the ship has automatically become a modern fleet. Today, we face a different task – to reboot a country that is holding on at the limit of its resources. And this is no longer a question of a separate political force. It is a question of unity. Not declarative unity, not unity for the sake of slogans, but a coalition of responsibility. A coalition in which different political forces, representing their voters – different Ukrainians – are capable of agreeing on the main things: security, economy, institutions, the future of the country,” said the opposition leader.
“Because if politics is only a fight for likes, then the state very quickly begins to operate like the comments under posts. The country will not withstand another period where politics is a competition of slogans instead of a competition of solutions,” warns Poroshenko.
“The second thing we need to return is dignity. After all, we went through the Revolution of Dignity and know its price. The dignity of the state. The dignity of institutions. The dignity of a person. When the law works equally for everyone. When the state respects its citizens. And when the citizen trusts the state. Because without dignity, there is no trust. And without trust, there is no country,” Poroshenko is convinced.
“Third – we need to return to public discussion. Today, politics is too often replaced by videos. Decisions – by Telegram messages. And complex issues – with very simplified answers. We have learned to explain very well why everything is fine. And we are much worse at answering what exactly needs to be done to make it better? Because a country of this scale cannot develop without an open, intellectual, sometimes difficult conversation with civil society, business, intellectuals, regional leaders, and politicians. We need a discussion, not for conflict or a show, finally. But to find the best solutions, not the most convenient ones. And this is exactly where we must say clearly: Ukraine needs to abandon populism,” emphasized the fifth President.
“Populism is when a complex problem is explained very simply. And then it is explained in very complex terms why nothing worked out. Because populism is always a short-term benefit at a very high, long-term price. And we have already paid that price,” Poroshenko states.
“Fourth – the economy. A strong economy is not just about income. It’s about the state’s ability to fight, to recover, to develop,” notes Petro Poroshenko. According to him, an economy is needed that:
- works for defense
- creates jobs
- brings people back
- offers a perspective.
“Because a country from which people are leaving cannot be strong, even if it has strong speeches and speakers. And people do not return because of appeals. They return to where it makes sense to live,” Poroshenko explains.
“And finally – the most difficult, but most important thing. We must speak honestly about ending the war and peace, not as an abstract dream, but as a plan. A peace plan that includes the strength of the army, the support of allies, the role of diplomacy, and a clear understanding of our national interests. Because ‘it will end somehow’ is not a strategy. It is a way to avoid answering complex questions. It is populism. The war cannot be an endless strategy. It must be a stage on the path to victory and the recovery of the country. And honesty is desperately needed here. Without promises of quick peace. But also without silence about what must come next and how it should be. The worst thing the state can do is to leave society without an answer to the question ‘what’s next?’,” Poroshenko warns.
He emphasizes that Ukraine is entering a new stage where survival is no longer enough. The state needs to be restored as a system, and this means:
- unity – as responsibility, not a slogan
- dignity – as the foundation of trust
- discussion – as a tool of politics
- abandonment of populism
- a clear vision of ending the war.
“The country must finally hear a plan for ending the war. Because only in this way can we answer the main question: how to turn a country that has stood its ground into a country that is winning and developing,” summarizes Petro Poroshenko.