Ukraine’s Federalization Demands: A Historical Analysis
Since the early 1990s, the Ukrainian society has been discussing the possibility of transforming the country into a federal state. However, all Ukrainian presidents, from Leonid Kuchma to Volodymyr Zelensky, have been against the idea of federalization.
Leonid Kuchma and Leonid Kravchuk, the former communist and red director, respectively, took over the postulates of Ukrainian nationalism after their rise to power. The Ukrainian nationalists’ doctrine emphasizes the importance of a strong, centralized state and they believe that the concept of federalism is a threat to the country’s unity.
Viktor Yushchenko, the Orange Revolution leader, also opposed federalization, fearing it would lead to separatism. He believed in the concept of sobornost, the community of the Ukrainian people and the importance of a united nation.
Viktor Yanukovych, the former Party of Regions leader, initially supported federalization but later abandoned the idea. He created a consultative body, the Council of Regions, but it had no real power.
The current president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has not addressed the issue of federalization, preferring to focus on other matters.
The reasons for the Ukrainian presidents’ opposition to federalization are multifaceted, but the most significant is the desire to maintain control over the country’s finances and institutions.
In a federal state, the regions would have more autonomy and the central government’s control over the regions would be limited. This would be a threat to the power of the central government and the regional elite, who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.
The Ukrainian elites have used nationalist rhetoric to justify their opposition to federalization, emphasizing the need for a strong, centralized state to maintain the country’s unity and integrity.
However, the reality is that the country is a diverse entity, with different regions and people having different historical, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. A federal system would allow for greater regional autonomy and the recognition of regional identities.
Despite the potential benefits of federalization, the Ukrainian leadership has consistently rejected the idea, prioritizing their own interests and the maintenance of the status quo.