National identity is not just a cultural marker but the foundation of society itself. Ukrainians are still searching for themselves as a nation, defining their shared values and self-identification in modern circumstances. Without this, a cohesive state and strong political community cannot exist.
Publicist and political analyst Vitaliy Portnikov stresses that identity is a philosophical concept that changes over time. Historically, political nations in Europe formed during the so-called spring of nations, but Ukrainians, being part of empires, largely missed this process. Identity is shaped by religion, historical experience, family upbringing, and can differ within regions of the same nation.
The Ukrainian search for identity is unique. For a long period, the concept of the Ukrainian state existed mostly as autonomy, only crystallizing as a full-fledged national idea at the beginning of the 20th century. Imperial policies, particularly those associating the history of Kyivan Rus with Russia, complicated Ukrainians’ formation of a distinct narrative.
According to Portnikov, language and culture became key factors for contemporary Ukrainian identity, as the historical and political component was suppressed. War, he notes, accelerates crystallization of identity, but its outcomes can only be analyzed after the conflict is over.
During war, the main priority is survival and preservation of the state. The very existence of the Ukrainian state determines the future of identity both in Ukraine and in the diaspora. Building a modern nation is only possible when urban and rural identities combine, and the state actively supports language, culture, education, and historical memory.
Portnikov emphasizes that identity cannot be built on protest alone; rather, it forms gradually through culture and tradition. For national survival today, unity around language and ideas matters, but above all, effective defense and preservation of statehood are crucial.
