Ukraine is undergoing a similar transformation to that experienced by the USA in the late 18th century - Vakarchuk

Ukraine is currently undergoing a similar political transformation to that which the USA experienced in the late 18th century, Ukrainian public activist and Okean Elzy rock band frontman Svyatoslav Vakarchuk said at the 13th Yalta European Strategy (YES) Annual Meeting.

“We live in a society which is being built as a political nation, and ordinary citizens can and should participate in its creation. We are undergoing a similar transition and political transformation to that which America experienced in the late 18th century when everything was being built by townships, people, and social activists who later became leaders of the nation,” he said.

Vakarchuk said he expected civil society in Ukraine to strengthen and civil initiatives to transform into a political force over time. True political parties are yet to be formed, in his opinion.

“I do not think that we have real political parties yet in Ukraine. Ukrainian society is divided by parties, but those parties are not based on economic or social ideology but by geography or populist leadership. I think Ukraine needs not one but several new parties which are based on ideologies, not just on occasional leadership,” Vakarchuk concluded.