Ukraine: The Everlasting Present Documentary dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence
Ukraine is a country that was unknown to most Americans, but it was always known to the political establishment of the US. On February 22, 2014…
Ukraine: The Everlasting Present Documentary dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence
Ukraine is a country that was unknown to most Americans, but it was always known to the political establishment of the US. On February 22, 2014, Ukraine quickly came to the attention of Americans, as well as the world. ‘Ukraine - The Everlasting Present’ explores the competing narratives about the country’s journey through the eyes of an American filmmaker, as told by the men who governed the country.
"The documentary “Ukraine: The Everlasting Present” analyzes the key geopolitical and economic trends in the modern history of Ukraine trying to find answers to the most pressing questions of today’s Ukraine – how came that a state with a once huge industrial potential turned into the poorest nation in Europe, how came that Ukraine’s political elite does not envisage its future in Ukraine and treats the country as a platform for making money and plundering its resources, and how came that two revolutions and an endless number of civil protest actions have caused “social elevators” bringing to the top of power not statesmen with a proper education and experience to formulate and resolve strategic all-Ukrainian issues, but petty opportunists who gradually let the country lose its subjectivity and dive into social chaos, as well as gave its economy over to the global players.
The documentary made an extensive use of commentaries by renowned Ukrainian scientists, politicians, officials and opinion leaders, including those known for the US viewers – Viktor Yuschenko, Andriy Derkach, Valery Pusovoitenko, Yuriy Ekhanurov – all remarkable for being top Ukrainian politicians.
The filmmakers also debunked the most established myths, which were continuously used by Ukraine’s political elite to manipulate the minds of voters – these include unjustified plans for NATO membership and EU accession, as well as selling of land and other issues.
The main conclusions of the film were put as follows: in domestic policy – Ukraine would avoid anarchy, new revolutions and internal upheavals, which traditionally put the country back for many years, only by means of consolidating local elites and developing a common vision for the country’s further development.
In terms of foreign policy – if Ukraine doesn’t balance its relations with the Russian Federation and the USA, the only options for its further existence will be either disintegration into several parts “mandated” by global players or turning into a territory of chaos and remaining as such until another agreement or another conflict between “big” countries. " August 25,2021 https://archive.ph/QzGsK
