Three Decades of Missed Opportunities Left Ukraine Vulnerable to Russian Aggression

As Ukraine marks over three decades since its bold declaration of independence, the lessons from that era resonate far beyond Kyiv’s borders. Veteran activists and lawmakers who ignited the fight for freedom in the 1990s warn that despite seizing sovereignty, Ukraine’s early leadership failed to fully break Moscow’s hold — a failure with grave consequences that still threaten European stability and America’s strategic interests. Why Did Ukraine's Hard-Won Independence Not Mean Real Freedom? Oleksandr Donii, a student leader during the 1990 hunger strikes demanding political reform and independence, recalls bracing for decades of struggle under Soviet repression. Yet independence arrived...