Ukraine Crisis Media Center, 23 May 2014

Ladies and gentlemen,

• “Throughout the centuries, the history of Ukraine has revealed the turning points in the history of Europe.
• Ukraine has no future without Europe. But Europe also has no future without Ukraine.”
• These words belong to Dr. Timothy Snyder.
• One week ago Dr. Snyder together with Leon Wieseltier of The New Republic organized the outstanding intellectual conferenceThinking Ukraine held at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine.
• Before the Presidential elections of 25 May and in the process of the ongoing European elections these words have a sound and profound sense.
• Ukraine is free and open.
• We do not pretend. We do not hide from our problems.
• As a united nation we are what we stand and fight for.
• Dignity. Freedom. Passion to Change our Life. These words make sense here, in Ukraine.
• More than 2700 international observers from 19 countries and a number of organizations will ensure that the Presidential elections will pass in a transparent manner and in full compliance with national and international standards.
• More than 400 thousand Ukrainian citizens will be able to vote abroad in one of 114 ballot stations.
• All 6 districts in Russia (Moscow, Nizhniy Novgorod, Rostov-na-Donu, St.Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk) are fully prepared and voting there will take place as per normal.
• Under Ukrainian legislations, the elections will be deemed valid even if voting was impossible in a number of districts.
• The Government provided for Ukrainian citizens from temporarily occupied Crimea to vote in any other region of our country.
• Around 6,000 Ukrainian citizens from Crimea applied to vote in other regions.
• Aside from a few electoral districts in Lugansk and Donetsk regions, all preparations are taken in 225 election districts nationwide.
• There is no doubt that separatists have already received their instructions.
• They will try to derail the election. They are already doing it – spreading death and destruction in some towns of Ukraine’s East. Yet, the soil under their feet is starting to shake.
• The people of Donetsk, Lugansk and other cities that were hit the most by separatism, realize now that there is only one way back to peaceful life – electing a new president, engaging in the national dialogue and abstaining from violence.
• I am confident that on the 25 of May Ukrainians will support the European future.
• The European Union itself is on the eve of milestone elections to the European Parliament.
• We hope that unprecedented synergy of our common Association efforts will be not only maintained, but strongly enhanced after this voting with a new strategic perspective.

Ladies and gentlemen,

• A successful election on May 25th is Point One on the peace agenda.
• Point Two is continuing fulfillment of the Geneva agreement. In particular, proceeding with the National Dialogue.
• Round tables as part of the national unity dialogue already have been held in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv.
• We have missed this dialogue for years. This Cabinet launched it.
• Point Three will be broad economic and political reforms, some of which have already started in the framework of the IMF stand-by program and some of which are in preparation.
• This third point is, perhaps, what this all has been about – a possibility for Ukraine to pull through, to shrug off the Post-Soviet past and to become a success and the European drive.
• 70% of Ukraine’s East and South unequivocally support Ukraine’s unity.
• All representatives of intelligentsia and large business of these regions speak out in favor of staying a part of Ukraine.
• A very remarkable thing: not even one of them is to be found in the leadership of the “Terrorist Republics” – the ragtag gangs of local misfits inspired and supported by the Kremlin only.
• The separatists are getting increasingly isolated. And their time is running up.
• All polls point to a successful election with a record turnout wherever Ukrainians are allowed to vote.
• And that will be 90% of the country’s territory (aside from the occupied Crimea).
• A successful election should become a breakthrough for all of us.
• After these dramatic, difficult months Ukraine needs some peace and quiet to fulfill what people so vocally demanded on the streets in East and West: becoming a better state.
• Thinking Ukraine, Dr. Snyder said.
• To become a better state – that is our intention.
• All those who care for Ukraine will help us in this endeavor.
• And all those who don’t – are destined to fail.