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Ukrainian Voices
Ukraine vs. Darkness: (Undiplomatic Thoughts)
This book draws on the author's experience from 26 years of Ukrainian diplomatic service in, among others, Bonn, Berlin, Washington, and Vienna, and his work as a speechwriter to most Ukrainian foreign ministers for the last two decades. Scherba's captivating essays reflect his views of international affairs from a Ukrainian perspective. His deliberations are presented in uncomplicated, plain language. The articles assembled here have repeatedly caused discussion in Ukraine and abroad.
By his opponents, Scherba is often described as being surprisingly undiplomatic and even provocative. For instance, his article "Why nationalism can't be the national idea of a European Ukraine", published on a Ukrainian nationalist website, stirred considerable controversy in Ukraine. Aside from explaining Kyiv's take on some key issues of international relations, these essays provide insights into Ukrainian political thinking since the start of Russia's military aggression in 2014, and into the painful political intramural fights in Ukrainian society ever since.
By his opponents, Scherba is often described as being surprisingly undiplomatic and even provocative. For instance, his article "Why nationalism can't be the national idea of a European Ukraine", published on a Ukrainian nationalist website, stirred considerable controversy in Ukraine. Aside from explaining Kyiv's take on some key issues of international relations, these essays provide insights into Ukrainian political thinking since the start of Russia's military aggression in 2014, and into the painful political intramural fights in Ukrainian society ever since.
166 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 7, 2024
UKRAINE VS. DARKNESS: UNDIPLOMATIC THOUGHTS explains the Ukrainian people's character and soul and delves into the origins of the Russia-Ukraine confrontation.
Olexander Scherba was a Ukrainian ambassador to Austria from 2014 to 2021. All he believed in during his childhood in the Soviet Union collapsed along with the rapid disintegration of the USSR, in which Ukraine played a major part. Essays in this collection express the author's perspective as an ordinary Ukrainian rather than a high-ranking official. The deliberate use of the plural form 'we' and emotional appeal to the reader - and, sometimes, to Russian politicians - stress the importance of the author's message: being on the 'bloodlands,' Ukraine belongs to Europe. While Ukraine politically shares the past and personally, with many intermarriages and migration, shares the present with Russia, the two countries adopted opposite views on their future. Russia wants to restore lost greatness, the zenith of which, in Vladimir Putin's opinion, lay in the victory in WW2; Ukraine wants to adopt European values: tolerance, feminism, and freedom. Understandably, Olexander Scherba pays much attention to Ukraine's aspirations. He points out modern Europe's ineptitude as one of the reasons Putin took an aggressive stance toward the buffer zone of former Soviet republics like Belarus, Georgia, and, of course, Ukraine.
The book was published in 2021; Russia had been conducting military operations, covert or not, on Ukrainian soil for many years. Despite fleetingly mentioning corruption and bad governance as two primary sources of Ukraine's misery, the author sees only the bright future, asking the EU to give Ukraine one more chance after the failed attempt at an agreement in 2014. The picture of a possibly prosperous Ukraine may be believable for the American audience, who had never heard about the country before the conflict. If published after 2022, it would have aligned with the tendency to ignore Ukraine's governmental shortcomings. The author bypasses economic decline and population exodus, which only intensified after the start of Russian aggression in Crimea.
UKRAINE VS. DARKNESS is an easy read for newcomers to Ukrainian history and politics. However, for a person who is somehow familiar with Ukrainian history and the Russia-Ukraine war, the book provides neither a fresh perspective nor new information.
Olexander Scherba was a Ukrainian ambassador to Austria from 2014 to 2021. All he believed in during his childhood in the Soviet Union collapsed along with the rapid disintegration of the USSR, in which Ukraine played a major part. Essays in this collection express the author's perspective as an ordinary Ukrainian rather than a high-ranking official. The deliberate use of the plural form 'we' and emotional appeal to the reader - and, sometimes, to Russian politicians - stress the importance of the author's message: being on the 'bloodlands,' Ukraine belongs to Europe. While Ukraine politically shares the past and personally, with many intermarriages and migration, shares the present with Russia, the two countries adopted opposite views on their future. Russia wants to restore lost greatness, the zenith of which, in Vladimir Putin's opinion, lay in the victory in WW2; Ukraine wants to adopt European values: tolerance, feminism, and freedom. Understandably, Olexander Scherba pays much attention to Ukraine's aspirations. He points out modern Europe's ineptitude as one of the reasons Putin took an aggressive stance toward the buffer zone of former Soviet republics like Belarus, Georgia, and, of course, Ukraine.
The book was published in 2021; Russia had been conducting military operations, covert or not, on Ukrainian soil for many years. Despite fleetingly mentioning corruption and bad governance as two primary sources of Ukraine's misery, the author sees only the bright future, asking the EU to give Ukraine one more chance after the failed attempt at an agreement in 2014. The picture of a possibly prosperous Ukraine may be believable for the American audience, who had never heard about the country before the conflict. If published after 2022, it would have aligned with the tendency to ignore Ukraine's governmental shortcomings. The author bypasses economic decline and population exodus, which only intensified after the start of Russian aggression in Crimea.
UKRAINE VS. DARKNESS is an easy read for newcomers to Ukrainian history and politics. However, for a person who is somehow familiar with Ukrainian history and the Russia-Ukraine war, the book provides neither a fresh perspective nor new information.
May 17, 2021
This book describes very thoroughly what Ukraine is, for itself, for Europe and for Russia. The opinions of the author are built with very strong argumentation. The author hasn’t opened my eyes on Russian politics toward Ukraine, but for sure opened my eyes on the weakness of Europe in this moment of history.
April 21, 2022
A sharp, clear-eyed book from a Ukrainian perspective. Valuable even though it was written before the war in 2022. It's useful because it cuts through a lot of the poor thinking that gets shared when the media and other commenters discuss a region of world they only understand superficially.
August 4, 2023
An excellent collection of honest essays from someone who has had a front seat to Ukraine's modern history.
It's however easy to see that most of these essays were written prior to the big invasion. Much has changed since. Scherba in my opinion is too optimistic about russia with a hint of blind nostalgia for his soviet childhood and the gReAt russian culture. He underestimates Ukrainians and judges them by some impossible moral standard. Ukraine is a miracle nation that survived unimaginable horrors and still stands against all odds. He mocks the western idea of "resets" of the russia relationship yet showers Angela Merkel with praise (the woman who was at the forefront of deepening Germany's dependency on russia, financing putin's war and blocking Ukraine's NATO aspirations).
Still I give this collection 5 stars. Scherba does a wonderful job writing Ukraine's honest history in an apologetic tone. Ukraine fights for freedom, democracy and everyone's future. She survived many dictators and will survive this one raising the victory flag over its embattled cities, once and for all reaffirming that freedom trumps the unfreedom. 🇺🇦
It's however easy to see that most of these essays were written prior to the big invasion. Much has changed since. Scherba in my opinion is too optimistic about russia with a hint of blind nostalgia for his soviet childhood and the gReAt russian culture. He underestimates Ukrainians and judges them by some impossible moral standard. Ukraine is a miracle nation that survived unimaginable horrors and still stands against all odds. He mocks the western idea of "resets" of the russia relationship yet showers Angela Merkel with praise (the woman who was at the forefront of deepening Germany's dependency on russia, financing putin's war and blocking Ukraine's NATO aspirations).
Still I give this collection 5 stars. Scherba does a wonderful job writing Ukraine's honest history in an apologetic tone. Ukraine fights for freedom, democracy and everyone's future. She survived many dictators and will survive this one raising the victory flag over its embattled cities, once and for all reaffirming that freedom trumps the unfreedom. 🇺🇦
June 14, 2022
Very informative
Very informative especially if you want to learn about the history of Ukraine and why Russian invasion against Ukraine in 2014.
Very informative especially if you want to learn about the history of Ukraine and why Russian invasion against Ukraine in 2014.
May 26, 2024
Really insightful view into Ukrainian political culture and history. It reads like an op-ed because that’s what it is, at the end of the day.
March 30, 2022
Ukraine vs. Darkness is essential reading for Americans striving to understand Ukrainian history and perspective leading to Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The author covers critical historical events since Ukraine's independence following the fall of the Soviet Union - what I was looking for - but he also writes from the heart with both a Ukrainian and global perspective. The combination effectively conveys what this moment means to Ukrainians, and the depth of their courage and spirit to fight for their freedom and their future. As an American who is feeling horrified and helpless at Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine, it was the right book at the right time.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews