NEW YORK – The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) hosted Josef Zissels, vice-president of the World Jewish Congress and executive vice-president of the Congress of Ethnic Communities of Ukraine, at its New York City offices. The June 11 gathering, which was attended by members of the local Ukrainian community, allowed for Mr. Zissels to share his thoughts on the current situation in Ukraine and the plight of ethnic minorities in a country under military attack.
Mr. Zissels, a 69-year-old former dissident who spent time in the gulag on charges of “defaming the Soviet political and social system,” did not hold back when addressing the political and military realities on the ground as they relate to Russia. Far more pressing in his mind is the fight against corruption in his native Ukraine, which will require a generational shift in attitudes towards everyday graft. He said he believes that, without a concerted effort in educating Ukrainians on this issue, fighting corruption will continue to be an uphill battle.
Most importantly, Mr. Zissels talked about the incredible spirit of Ukrainian civil society. Since his time on the Maidan during the protests of 2013-2014, Mr. Zissels said he has seen a reanimated populace that has defied expectations again and again. He emphasized that the Maidan came to be through the efforts of the NGO community and various ethnic minorities, and not through the work of any political party or politician. Moreover, he stated that due to this natural upsurge of volunteerism there are now roughly 7 million to 8 million volunteers – a “historical phenomenon” that future generations will study and write about when discussing 21st century social activism.
As for the Russian claims that “fascism has taken over Ukraine,” Mr. Zissels said he could attest only to the incredible spirit of cooperation he has witnessed among people of all backgrounds in Ukraine, with respect for Jews and other ethnic minorities demonstrating the increased dedication to human rights and Western values. He further described Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity and the subsequent Russian invasion as a war of civilizations – Europe and its Western democratic values versus Eurasia and the revival of Soviet identity. Ukrainians have chosen the European path, he underscored.
Ending his observations on a hopeful note, Mr. Zissels remarked that although many may think that Ukraine is losing the hybrid war Russia has launched, in fact, Ukraine has shown signs that it can win in the end. Ukrainians today stand on the front lines of democracy and have shown the world they are willing to sacrifice their lives to defend European values.
“Were we like our Russian aggressors, we would bomb the occupied territories into submission without hesitation. But Ukrainians are not like that,” Mr. Zissels stated. “We respect human rights and the right to liberty, even in the face of the enormous struggle against an opponent who does not share such values – our European values.”