A Visit to Kyiv to Mark Ukraine’s 35 Years of Independence

Kyiv, Ukraine — August 24 marked the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the evil empire that was the Soviet Union. I was honored to be in Kyiv with my friend, former Vice President Mike Pence, to speak at some of the anniversary events. We also met with Ukrainian government, business, civic, and spiritual leaders to get their take on the ongoing war with Russia.

I spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky about the challenges Ukraine faces. He said he is deeply thankful for U.S. and European support in all facets of the war and especially with respect to military arms and equipment. But he was also blunt about Ukraine’s lack of Patriot missiles and other high-end interceptors. They are desperately needed, as Russian missiles continue to target civilians and critical civilian infrastructure nightly. But he understands that with U.S. military stockpiles dwindling, Ukraine cannot get everything it needs. “If we could get just 5 percent of the U.S. Patriots produced, it would mean safety for our people,” he told me.

Although I could see the fatigue on his face, he greeted me with warmth and enthusiasm. I could sense his love for his people and his gut-level determination not to capitulate to the Russian invaders. He spoke passionately of the thousands of Ukrainians who have died defending their freedom and vowed that they will not have died in vain.

His keynote speech to the more than 2,000 attendees at the event Pence and I also spoke at was inspiring and challenging. No leader is perfect: Just look at our own nation. And yes, Zelensky has made plenty of mistakes. But he still seems, to me, the right man to lead Ukraine to victory in this epic struggle of freedom and democracy versus tyranny and oppression.

Equally impressive were the other Ukrainians I spoke with. Whether leaders or regular citizens, there was no quit in them. Many had lost family members or friends in the war. Others had lost eyes, limbs, or homes. But I did not meet anyone who had lost hope. Everyone was united in the mission of defending their freedoms, their families, and their future from Russian tyranny. They were incredibly inspiring. Collectively, they reminded me again of why the U.S. and all democratic nations need to support these modern-day freedom fighters.

Visiting the “Wall of Remembrance” was the most moving moment of the journey. It featured row upon row of pictures of young men and women who had died defending their nation. It brought tears to my eyes. To lay a wreath at the wall in their honor was a true blessing.

My short speech took a theme from Winston Churchill: Never Surrender. Like Zelensky, Churchill had his share of faults and critics. But he also rallied his beleaguered nation in a time of crisis and in doing so helped Western civilization defeat a brutal 20th-century dictator.

I also spoke bluntly of the need for change in Ukrainian government and culture. Surviving for 70 years in the culture of corruption that permeated the Soviet Union, many Ukrainian business and government leaders learned the wrong lessons. One of the reasons the Russian army has failed so spectacularly in this war is that that same culture of corruption is still endemic in Russia today. Ukraine is making great strides in this area, but there is more work to do. My challenge to our Ukrainian friends was blunt: Ukrainians must snuff out the embers of the culture of corruption they inherited from the Soviet Union. I asked all in attendance to take a pledge not to give a bribe, not to take a bribe, and to actively oppose those who do. The standing ovation that followed was a clear sign of how much Ukrainians want this for their nation.

Corruption is a tax by the richest and most powerful 1 percent on everyone else. Wherever it is allowed to thrive, poverty and dysfunction follow. The poorest nations of our world all prove this truth.

I pray the good people of Ukraine learn this immutable lesson of history. If they do, they will defeat the ultra-corrupt Russian republic and move forward toward a free, fair, and democratic Ukraine. In doing so, they will send a strong message to corrupt and acquisitive dictators everywhere. Just as importantly, they will strengthen the cause of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law everywhere in our world.