Independence Day Vox Populi: What do you want Ukraine to achieve next year?

Editor’s Note: Ukraine celebrates its 28th birthday on Aug. 24. In the run-up to Independence Day, the Kyiv Post asked Kyivans what they would like their country to accomplish in its next year of independence.

Filip Slaboshpytskyi

student

“I would like to see the evolution of democracy. Apart from that, I`d like to see the development of small and medium-sized businesses without the authorities’ intervention or control over them. It would be good if Ukraine went from selling its natural resources to providing services. I also want to see improvement in the economy, educational reform and a clear plan which we will follow.”

Dmytro Sleptsov

manager for employing people abroad

“I hope that some people who harm our country will disappear. And I hope that the war will finally be over.”

Denys Vitkovskyi

law student

“The very first thing I’d want from Ukraine and our authorities is peace. I expect a rise in living standards so that people can save money to travel and to live comfortably without denying themselves anything. I’d like to see some economic stability when it comes to the dollar/euro exchange rate and also the constant stability of  the Ukrainian hryvnia.”

Robert Shenk

retiree

“I expect that young politicians will manage to retain power. There have to be a lot of economic reforms because, now, every legislative act has very ambiguous wording, so all the crooks in government take advantage of it. It must be changed and it requires endless, just endless amounts of work.”

Iryna Yenikeieva

waitress 

I would want people to live well, to get large salaries and large pensions. I would want people to live in prosperity.”

Alexandra Kontorovich

medical student

It’s hard to say because I am from Russia. But I would like to see improvements in the relationship between our countries, of course, because, at a minimum, the lack of direct flights just kills me. I would like to spend more time here instead of trying to cross the border and having strange relations with locals. People’s attitude often changes when I say that I am from Russia.”

Vitalii Pohromskyi

construction worker

“The end of the war, the stability of dollar and the fight against corruption.”

Oleksandra Proskurkina

architect

“I’d like Ukraine to win Eurovision next year. I also want some changes in our medical and educational system. For example, an increase in state scholarships to universities. I guess, the retirees should have better pensions, too.”