Talking to Ukrainians: An Outsider’s Perspective

For a period of six months, I lived in Ukraine and had the opportunity to learn from a fascinating people. Conquering adversity, fear, and difficulties unknown to most Westerners, Ukraine has shown to the world just what resiliency consists of. From past difficulties to ongoing struggles, Ukrainians explained to me their worldviews, values, and ethics. From the rural famers to the urbanite city worker, this book shares the viewpoints of Ukrainians as they see the world, as conveyed by an outsider. Few books, in English at least, attempt to convey how Ukrainians cope and live in difficult times; this is my small contribution to having their voices heard. In this book, I emphasize the cultural and historical realities of Ukraine, making clear that any criticism of the Russian Federation has nothing to do with culture, beliefs, and value systems of the Russian people.

A good primer to understand a country at crossroads, I delve into how Ukrainians see the Russian Federation. As you’ll read, Russian culture and identity are essential to modern Ukraine, and issues of ethnic tensions, while so common in many parts of Europe, are exceptionally rare in this nation.

This book explores why Ukraine is in the economic position it finds itself in, and what exactly triggered the most recent government ousting. As the reader will see, Ukrainians are an incredibly resilient people; their patience, however, is far more finite.