Espreso. Global
OPINION

Patriotism of future in Europe

Knyazhytsky Mykola
5 September, 2024 Thursday
15:33

Theses of my speech at a conference in the Polish Karpacz on the nature of Ukrainian patriotism as a new European patriotism

client/title.list_title

I will start with a thesis that is quite self-evident in Ukraine, although, unfortunately, it is less present in discussions in other European countries: the patriotism of the future in Europe is being formed on the frontlines of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

This statement has both a front and a reverse side, i.e., positive and negative content. Positive, because Ukrainian soldiers, volunteers, rescuers, medics, and in fact all Ukrainians are patriots of Europe. On the same level as they are patriots of their state and nation.

Because Ukraine is Europe.

We are proud to emphasize that the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred are the first Europeans to give their lives for the flag of Ukraine and the flag of the European Union in the hot winter of 2014. Just as today Ukrainian soldiers are shedding blood for Ukraine and a united Europe.

These are not empty words, because we are well aware that without Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO, Ukrainians will never feel safe. Russia will always encroach on its freedom and its land, trying to capture and destroy Ukraine. This is an axiom, regardless of whether Russia was white, red, Putin's Russia, or whether it will be something else in the future.

“Ukraine is not Russia” is the title of a book by one of the Ukrainian presidents who tried to find a way to the minds of Russians and their leadership. He did not find a way, because for 400 years, war has been coming from Russia to Ukrainians when they claim the right to their own identity and independence, as well as the right to belong to Europe.

The reverse, negative side of the thesis about the patriotism of the future that is emerging in Ukraine is Putin's Russia's undisguised goal of destroying Europe itself. As the antithesis of what Russian imperialists consider to be the foundation of “Russianness,” that is, its spirit, purpose, and global mission of “Holy Rus.”

Putin presented all this cocktail of Slavophilia, Russophilia, and Russian Bolshevism to his people as the basis for building a new empire. And after two and a half years of a large-scale war against Ukraine, it is clear that the “Russian world” is very confidently held in the minds of Russians. And there is no other way to change this than the victory of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the battlefield.

Putin claims that he had to attack Ukraine because Ukraine is “anti-Russia,” when in fact he claims that Russia is the negation of Ukraine and Europe. So, either Russia prevails or Ukraine does, with no middle ground.

Putin has put up the whole zoo of retrograde ideas to unite his agents, supporters, and those who generally dislike the modern democratic West. Quite successfully, if we look at the election results in various European countries, particularly in the two eastern regions of Germany.

The Putinverstehers are holding firm, despite the fact that Russia is the opposite of conservative values.

Freedom has been replaced by enslavement, dignity by humiliation, and justice by an oligarchic system that is transforming into a hereditary pseudo-aristocracy.

Service to Christ by the largest church has been replaced by service to the state and its dictator, as well as the proclamation of a genocidal war against a neighboring state as “sacred.”

The promotion of “traditional values” means 1 million abortions every year and a radical drop in the already extremely low rates of attendance at Orthodox churches.

If you want to know the value of Europe, then look into the looking glass that Putin's Russia has become - this is the value basis of the formula of Ukrainian resilience in resisting Russian aggression.

Does this declaration mean that we do not understand the problems faced by the peoples of the EU member states? Of course not, because Ukrainians understand a lot, and millions of their countrymen have already acclimatized to Europe.

Ukrainians simply have a different experience - they are returning to the European family from a world that is sought by those who deny the value of a united Europe. And they firmly testify that this world is terrible.

Another fundamental question is whether there is a Ukrainian model of patriotism that can serve as a model for the whole of Europe, especially in the context of deepening EU integration processes.

I will start by stating that the life-and-death situation in which Ukrainians find themselves is testing the fundamental values of their life. This includes patriotism, the willingness to sacrifice everything that is most precious for the sake of family, compatriots, and last but not least, the Motherland.

When you are face to face with the enemy, everything else fades into the background.

A Ukrainian patriot is someone who understands that Ukraine and Europe as a whole are a space of freedom, which means that Ukrainians have the opportunity to develop their own personality and the community to which they belong. At the same time, freedom means responsibility, not permissiveness. My freedom ends where yours begins and vice versa.

A Ukrainian patriot is a democrat, a supporter of the rule of law and human rights. A Ukrainian patriot does not measure the patriotism of others by the color of their skin, language spoken, ethnicity, religion, or political views.

Ukraine's president is Jewish by birth, Ukraine's defense minister is a Crimean Tatar, and Ukraine's commander-in-chief is a general with Russian roots. Are they less patriotic than “one hundred percent Ukrainians”?

The question is rhetorical. It is equally clear that the more someone loves their region, their “small homeland,” the more devotedly they will fight for the freedom of the “big” homeland.

Ukraine is so interesting and strong because it is different. Among Ukrainian soldiers there are members of the LGBT community, environmental activists, IT and artificial intelligence fans. We have well-developed Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic and Protestant chaplaincies. Rabbis and mullahs pray together for victory and peace in Ukraine.

Of course, Ukrainians are not perfect, nor are the relationships in their society. But as they are, we have withstood the Russian invasion and will certainly win.

Source

About the author. Mykola Kniazhytskyi, journalist, Member of Parliament of Ukraine

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of blogs or columns.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Thursday
12 September
21:30
Ukraine returns 931 children from Russian-occupied territories since 2022
21:10
Ukraine has right to strike at air bases where Russian bombers take off - Polish FM Sikorski
20:55
Putin: launch of Western long-range weapons deep into Russia would mean NATO's involvement in Ukraine war
20:32
Exclusive
"Biden's position will depend on what Blinken heard in Kyiv": analyst on greenlight to strike at Russia
20:12
Guerrillas blow up Russian guards involved in tortures in Ukraine
19:56
Exclusive
'It will be good news': expert on potential transfer of AGM-158A capable of hitting Russian airfields
19:30
79 clashes occur at front, majority in Kurakhove, Pokrovsk sectors - Ukraine's General Staff
19:12
Exclusive
Russian army wants to approach Pokrovsk from flanks - Ukrainian military
18:50
Ukrainians do not have resources to stop Russian offensive in Donbas: foreign fakes on September 12
18:29
Exclusive
One of Russia's newest fighter jet models destroyed over Black Sea
18:06
Russia hits ship with wheat, Zelenskyy emphasizes need for food security
17:55
"It goes according to Ukraine's plan": Zelenskyy on Russia's counteroffensive in Kursk region
17:32
Ukraine secures Soviet-era howitzers from Poland amid limited Western aid
17:10
EU extends personal sanctions for 6 months over Russian aggression in Ukraine
16:48
Exclusive
Not full-scale offensive: expert on Russian troops' activity in Kursk region
16:31
Updated
Russian shelling kills 3 Red Cross employees in Donetsk region
16:13
Russia attacks Ukraine with Shaheds, missiles: homes, power facilities hit in Konotop, casualties reported
15:53
OPINION
Which train to Europe will Ukraine be in time for?
15:39
Exclusive
"Tough times ahead for Pokrovsk": Editor-in-chief of Suspilne. Donbas Kramchenkov
15:17
Iranian missiles to Russia shift Ukraine debate — UK Foreign Secretary Lammy
14:59
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry urges Hasidic pilgrims to refrain from travelling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah
14:44
“Direct threat to peace and stability”: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry condemns NK's missile launches
14:28
OPINION
Analogous to HIMARS or Iranian Smerch: What are Fath-360 missiles Russia might use against Ukraine soon?
13:59
Exclusive
Russian counteroffensive in Kursk: not the success claimed, expert says
13:47
OPINION
“Peacekeeping marathon”. What is really happening?
13:19
President of Estonia Alar Karis arrives in Kyiv
12:55
Russia cuts off water supply to Pokrovsk, no restoration possible: officials urge evacuation
12:34
U.S., EU concerned about China transferring dual-use goods to Russia for warfare
12:14
Exclusive
Ukraine debate between Harris, Trump return U.S. to international politics - Journalist Gypson
11:52
Britain to allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles for strikes on Russia – media
11:30
Canadian Film Festival refuses to cancel screening of propaganda film Russians at War
11:13
How Kazakhstani shell company aids Russian military in servicing Su-30SM aircraft with French equipment
10:47
Exclusive
Russia maintains pressure in Kupyansk sector while protecting equipment – 14th Mechanized Brigade
10:18
Lithuania urges targeting Russian drones following UAV incident in Latvia
09:56
Ukrainian Defence Intelligence downs Russian Su-30SM aircraft over Black Sea: Video
09:42
Russia loses 630,000 troops since beginning of full-scale invasion of Ukraine
2024, Wednesday
11 September
21:20
UK announces $780 million aid package for Ukraine
21:00
Ukraine takes center stage at Trump-Harris presidential debate – U.S. journalist
20:45
Exclusive
Russian military begins to understand its strengths, weaknesses - Ukraine’s 3rd Brigade spokesman
20:22
Iran’s Fath-360 missile shipment to Russia: route, dates, numbers revealed
More news