Columns 
Originally published on The Ukrainian Weekly
I recently had the opportunity to spend nearly two weeks in Ukraine. It was my first visit since Russia’s full-fledged invasion and the longest I had been away in my adult life. Until now, every one of my visits since 1990 had been related to my work at the Helsinki Commission or as an international election observer. It was a refreshing change going to Ukraine as strictly a tourist, although I did meet with friends who are current or former Ukrainian government officials. Here’s my rough narrative with some of my experiences, thoughts and impressions:
During my time in Ukraine, my travelling companion, Adrian Karmazyn, and I visited several of Ukraine’s most prominent universities. In Lviv, we met with some of the leaders of the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), which I believe is now the toughest university in the country to get into. Under the leadership of its founder and president, Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak, it has become a high-quality, highly respected university not only in Ukraine, but in the entire region. On a tour of the attractive, modern, environmentally friendly campus, I was thrilled to see paintings donated by my mother displayed in various places, including in the conference room where many zoom meetings and conferences are held.
A university official only half-kiddingly mentioned that, given all of their online meetings with international partners, paintings from my parents’ art collection are seen around the world. And speaking of UCU’s international contacts, I can’t help but express pride in my alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, which has more extensive and deeper ties with UCU than any other university. Among the many memorable moments was a pleasant late August UCU outing for Lviv area supporters at Yavorivskiy Lake with fun, food and song, inspirational remarks by Archbishop Gudziak, swimming in the beautiful lake, and an evening campfire that reminded me of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization camps.
September 1 marks the traditional opening of the academic year in Ukraine. That day I joined Mr. Karmazyn, a journalist and former chief of Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service, at the journalism school at Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv (KNU), the largest and oldest higher education institution in Ukraine. We were told that the number of journalism students, mostly female, has grown this year. It was interesting for this American to compare the highly ceremonial opening day of schools in Ukraine with the United States, where the first day of class is much less formal and more subdued.
The next day, at the invitation of the head of KNU’s Department of Modern and Contemporary History, Oleh Mashevsky, and Associate Prof. Olha Sukhobokova, Mr. Karmazyn and I spoke to a group of students about U.S.-Ukraine relations, including the historical role of the U.S. Congress, and tried to provide some insights into current dynamics in the U.S. with respect to support for Ukraine. It was not an easy discussion, but the students asked good questions. I should note that KNU, with the support of the American Association for Ukrainian Studies, twice a year publishes the journal American Politics and History, to which both Mr. Karmazyn and I have contributed articles. It’s the only journal in Ukraine devoted to the United States exclusively. The indefatigable Ms. Sukhobokova is deeply involved with this publication. She also runs a Facebook page called diaspora.ua, where she posts frequently.
She is not the only Ukrainian who works tirelessly. I met with several friends in the Ukrainian government who also basically work around the clock. One of them has not had a real vacation since 2019. I met others who devote a considerable amount of their time to volunteering in civil organizations or churches, helping to build drones or otherwise assisting the war effort. They, as well as millions of other hard-working, committed Ukrainians, have a noble mission – to prevent their country and their democracy from being erased by a brutal, foreign aggressor. Of course, nobody sacrifices more than Ukraine’s soldier heroes.
Throughout my trip, I heard questions and concerns from just about everyone with whom I interacted about U.S. President Donald Trump and his frequently changing rhetoric and stance towards Ukraine, his bizarre relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his unwillingness, to date, to take more decisive action to support Ukraine when it’s painfully obvious that war criminal Putin does not want genuine peace. Or, more accurately, he wants “peace” on his terms, which means Ukraine’s capitulation. Frankly, the questions and concerns that I heard from Ukrainians echo those of many Americans, given the incoherence of our policy because of its dependence on the whims of our president. But one thing was extremely heartwarming: despite the skepticism of many Ukrainians about Mr. Trump, every single Ukrainian I met recognized that most Americans support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. Ukrainians are genuinely grateful for all that the American people have done in the last 3 and ½ years to help them.
While it is not easy to visit wartime Ukraine, consider doing so if you are comfortable with the idea (And I understand if you are not). Most of you reading these lines are already helping Ukraine by donating to organizations, advocating for Ukraine with elected representatives, informing the public or helping in other ways. Being present in Ukraine at this complicated time is also a way to help; it is a small, but still meaningful gesture of support. By listening to people who might share even a tiny slice of their war-impacted lives, you are demonstrating solidarity. You are standing with them.
Despite current difficulties, such as manpower shortages and general exhaustion from 3 and ½ years of war, I have faith that Ukraine will prevail, even if it may take time. My visit there reinforced this faith because one thing is certain: the Ukrainian people will persist. They will not give up. They have no choice. And freedom-loving people everywhere need to keep doing whatever we can to ensure that the Ukrainian people succeed.
Orest Deychakiwsky may be reached at orestdeychak@gmail.com