President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky believes that not only indigenous Kyiv resident can effectively govern the capital as the mayor of Kyiv, but the capital should become a comfortable, modern and cozy city for Kyiv residents, all Ukrainians and foreign guests.
“In the context of the Oct. 25 local elections, we often hear that Kyiv can be effectively governed only by a native of Kyiv. We are now in Taras Shevchenko University, which was not born in Kyiv. Actually, as well as Hrushevsky and Drahomanov, who taught here. As well as, by the way, Yevhen Paton, whose bridge serves the people of Kyiv every day. As architect Horodetsky, who was called ‘Gaudi of Kyiv.’ This does not mean that people born here did not bring glory to Kyiv. Suffice it to mention Sikorsky, Malevich, Lobanovsky. This means a completely different thing: to work for the good of the city, you do not have to be indigenous – you have to be decent, hardworking, honest, talented. And to invest in this city the most important thing we have – our heart and our soul. I believe that the candidate for the position of the mayor of Kyiv Iryna Vereshchuk is just such a person,” he said during the presentation of Kyiv City Development Strategy on Sept. 20.
Speaking about the existing problems in Kyiv, Zelensky pointed out that punctuality when moving around the city by road has become the same luxury as hot water in certain areas of the capital.
“Indeed, even on Sunday in Kyiv it is not difficult to get into a traffic jam, or to make a detour, because one of the bridges across Dnieper has been temporarily repaired for several years now. And which one is always a surprise for us. Or you can just drive along the street and fall under the asphalt,” he noted.
The president recalled that last year, in one of the ratings for the quality of life, Kyiv, unfortunately, took 173rd place, yielding to the capital of Gabon and Uganda, and Kyiv did not even enter the top ten among the Ukrainian cities recognized as the best for life.
“At the same time, the capital of Ukraine for the second year in a row tops the list of cities with the highest level of air pollution and each year rises higher in the ranking of the most expensive cities for a living,” he stressed.
“Kyiv is the face of Ukraine. And it hurts to see how this face is distorted by chaotic buildings,” Zelensky said.
“Kyiv is the soul of Ukraine. And we don’t want to see emissions and smog ‘spit’ into this soul. Finally, Kyiv is the heart of Ukraine. And it must beat to the fullest. We all want our favorite city to finally get the look it has long deserved – comfortable, convenient, modern and cozy,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky would like to see Kyiv the city that is “drowning in chestnut blossoms, not in small architectural forms near every metro station.” “Where finding a kindergarten for the child is not an impossible mission. Where the majestic slopes of the Dnieper delight everyone, not just the inhabitants of the nearby skyscrapers. Where the best films are shot and where tourists from all over the world come. A city for Kyiv residents, for all Ukrainians and guests of the capital,” the Head of State said.
