On June 12, 2025, the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) hosted a mentorship session with Victor Yushchenko — the third President of Ukraine (2005–2010), a prominent statesman, economist, and one of the most consistent advocates for Ukrainian identity.
The event brought together participants of the Create Ukraine program — an initiative aimed at young Ukrainians who aspire to return home and contribute to the country’s reconstruction.
In his address, Victor Yushchenko shared his experience in state-building, his vision of modern Ukrainian identity, and the importance of conscious citizenship. His speech highlighted several key messages:
🔹 Being a citizen means being the foundation of a nation.
“Population is just a statistical geography within a state’s borders, but a citizen is the foundation of a nation. A nation is the essence of our integrity and what defines us as a community.”🔹 Language is the essence that unites Ukrainians.
“It’s our code, our strength. If you lose your language — you lose everything.”🔹 Away from moscow.
“The root of our nation’s misfortunes is moscovia. For the past 300 years, Ukraine has not experienced true statehood, and every Ukrainian liberation movement carried the slogan ‘away from moscow.’ This must remain both your choice and your life’s call.”🔹 Politics affects everyone.
“If you think you’re outside of politics — that’s an illusion. You’re already in it.”🔹 Democracy is a choice.
“If you do not embrace democratic politics, you will lose. We must build it — it is the only path forward for Ukraine.”🔹 Security policy must be a top priority.
“After democracy, we pursue a European economic course, then a collective security model — only then can we map out Ukraine’s development roadmap.”🔹 Care about the world around you.
“Be experts, but don’t raise yourselves solely in the realm of technocratic values. If you go astray in materialism — you will lose a lot in life.”🔹 The strength of a nation lies in national spirit and unconditional respect for the homeland.
“Wars are not lost by soldiers — they’re lost by teachers. If a soldier lacks spirit, is that his fault? Your national roots are part of your resistance. Don’t break the bond with the land that gave you life.”
This session served as a meaningful platform for dialogue between youth and a national leader, giving participants the chance to ask questions directly and gain unique insights.
KSE Foundation continues to create opportunities for nurturing a new generation of leaders by engaging key figures from Ukraine’s history and present in vital conversations.
Create Ukraine is co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Lithuania within the EU4Youth initiative, aimed at empowering youth. The project is managed by the Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) and implemented by KSE Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.
Mentorship sessions are a core component of the Create Ukraine program. They offer participants a deeper understanding of how the public sector functions and how they can influence positive change. Past sessions featured speakers such as:
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Nadiya Pototska, strategic communications, crisis PR, and GR consultant
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Heorhii Tykhy, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
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Anna Novosad, former Minister of Education
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Svitlana Kotliarevska, expert in public sector team-building and scaling
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Mariya Zakharenko, Head of the Reform Support Team at the Ministry of Economy
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Sergiy Nikolaychuk, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine