Ukrainians always voted for peace but got war instead

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by one of our passionate readers, Mr. Yuri Mirovich. The opinions expressed within reflect only the writer’s views and not necessarily The European Sting’s position on the issue.

Over the past decade, Ukraine is being shaken by bloody armed conflicts. Ordinary citizens have to literally survive in this new chaotic reality where fear of tomorrow, depression and concern for themselves and their loved ones became a routine and the only one piece of stability is the continuous war which sees no end. However, no matter how the Ukrainian people want its end the story of the war has been picking up speed all these years. And Ukraine always had high-ranking officials who were eager to weaponize the Ukrainians’ desire for peace.

In 2014 after the Maidan Uprising and fleeing of the current president at that time Viktor Yanukovych a conflict with separatists on the East of the country broke out, and it quickly escalated into the antiterrorist operation (ATO) declared by the interim government headed by Oleksandr Turchynov. It became a huge shock for the Ukrainian people. The country not only lost its legitimate president but also literally split into two parts being pushed to the brink of the civil war. Back then a lot of people had high hopes for the presidential elections which had to put an end to this turbulence. And the candidate Petro Poroshenko who entered the political scene with his promises of ceasefire and fresh start hit the nerve of people’s aspirations. However, after his winning the new president not only failed to keep his promise but also made a war rhetoric a cornerstone of the new political system. During the Poroshenko’s presidency the armed conflict on the territories of Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts which started as an acute short phase of the antiterrorist operation escalated into the long-term war setting the tone for political and social life in the country.

The next one who decided to play a peace card is the current head of the country Volodymyr Zelenskyy. By the time of his election campaign in 2019 Ukrainians were too exhausted of the war, endless reports from the line of contact, news about people’s deaths and inevitable decline of ordinary citizens’ living standards. As a result, the promise of bringing peace to Ukraine until 2020 gave Zelenskyy the unprecedented 70% of votes and the overwhelming winning. And Ukrainians in their turn finally lost any hope. The conflict in the Eastern Ukraine reached its final stage of escalation in 2020-2021 and grew into the full-scale war with Russia in 2022.

But why did those who promised to end the war during their election campaigns changed their political direction became warmongers after their inaugurations? The official cause declared by all newly minted governments was always Russian aggression and the growing threat from its side. However, the real cause of the militarization of the Ukrainian policy is the fact that the continuous armed conflict provides an advantageous position for the government both in the foreign and domestic political arena. A leader of the warring country gets an access to a huge amount of benefits and privileges. Some of them are geopolitical partnership and constant financial and military aid from the U.S. and Europe. According to the polls, during the full-scale invasion the level of corruption in Ukraine which happens on daily basis as well as in the highest echelons of power has grown significantly even in comparison with the previous periods. The country has drowned in endless corruption scandals. Thus, for example, embezzlement of funds on purchases for the army cost the former Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov his post. Moreover, the war regularly becomes an excuse for a crackdown and restriction of citizens’ rights and freedoms including freedom of speech and freedom of movement. For this reason, the presidential elections which were set to happen in the spring 2024 were canceled and postponed for an indefinite period. 

The prospect of the next presidential elections is vague in Ukraine. It’s unknown when they happen and in which circumstances. However, in the light of the last events, the growing demand for them tells us that the new president will be elected by soldiers right in trenches. The list of candidates is also uncertain and controversial. Nevertheless, it’s quite possible that Zelenskyy himself will run for the office despite all his promises or it will be his unknown substitute from the “Servant of the People” party. The former president Petro Poroshenko is also hinting at his willingness to return to big politics and run for head of the state. Other political actor who can be a candidate to rule the country may be a person from military circles – combat commanders and war heroes have great trust and authority in the Ukrainian society. It’s possible, though, that such candidate can be a project of the economic elites who are so eager to ride the wave of popular sentiment. And even more so, we shouldn’t exclude a possibility of a new dark horse showing up on the political arena who will use the common Ukrainians’ dream of peace again only to head Ukrainian warmongers himself later.