Interview with Ukrainian Political Expert and President of The First International Ukrainian Foundation of Development Mykola Volkivskyi. About his experience in Ukrainian Politics

Hello Mykola Volkivskyi, Welcome to ABOUT INSIDER! Please describe to us a Ukrainian politician – who are these people, what qualities do they possess?
There has long been an opinion in the world that politicians are some kind of separate caste of people who are engaged in populism, promise a lot and do nothing at the same time.

I have long wanted to change my view of this cliché. A modern Ukrainian politician must possess all the qualities of an honest and responsible person, be a patriot. He falls asleep and wakes up with the thought of how to help his country, wielding all the tools and having power. My teacher, who only recently passed away from this world, Professor Volodymyr Tsvykh, always repeated the categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant: “So act that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end, never merely as a means”.

Did you always know you would be in this position? Or were there any doubts about choosing a profession?
From my very childhood I loved to read books, good and selected literature. While studying history, I singled out for myself one quote, which was uttered during his inaugural speech by the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. It sounded like this: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. I entered politics in 2014 and became an assistant-consultant to the People’s Deputy of Ukraine. I have tried to develop the topic of foreign policy, and also studied foreign languages. A good politician, in my opinion, should speak at least two foreign languages. It’s nice when a politician flew with a delegation to another country and can express his thoughts in a foreign language. After all, the delegation is the identification of the country.

Do you think we feel different at every age?
At the age of 18, we fly on wings, not thinking about anything, making mistakes, breaking hearts, gaining a protective shell. At 23, we already taste life, having some experience, we trust less, we check, but we still believe in the best. After 26 years, all conventions fade into the background, the brain controls the body and heart. We have enough irony to make Charlie Chaplin laugh. We look at everything through a certain prism. Sometimes, when all three components are connected together (body, brain and heart), symbiosis occurs. My conclusion: connect the components, get away from conventions. After all, one day we will get where we want. And this will be the most thorny path upward. Therefore, the movement is only forward – to new victories and achievements.

Now you can say with confidence that you have achieved everything you wanted in your career? Or do you agree with the expression “live and learn”, you need to remain always open to new knowledge?
I continue to study even now. This year I successfully completed and received a passing grade in “U.S. Political Institution” a course of study offered by HarvardX of Harvard University. Therefore, I am making every effort to my scientific research. I hope that I will nevertheless become a PhD. Although I was honored to study at various universities in the world, I love my Alma Mater – Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and the Department of Political Science. My scientific advisor and Professor Fedir Kyryliuk is my close friend. Another Fedor – Dostoevsky, said: “If you want to overcome the whole world, overcome yourself.” Our success depends entirely on our efforts: if we conquer laziness, fear and ignorance in ourselves, then nothing will be impossible for us, we can achieve everything on our own. As a rule, it is his weaknesses and vices that interfere with a person, and not at all bad fate or other people. I think each of us is born with extraordinary abilities, but not everyone has the inner strength to develop them.

“If you want to overcome the whole world, overcome yourself.”

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