In this interview, Vitalii Portnikov addresses central issues of contemporary Ukrainian politics, especially after the full-scale Russian invasion. He argues that the political process effectively ceased in February 2022 and will only resume meaningfully after the end of hostilities, when conditions for elections return.
Portnikov identifies the main threat for Ukraine as the very existence of the state and its people, not just management or policy issues. He stresses that Russia’s strategy aims not only at controlling territories but at eliminating Ukrainian statehood entirely.
He examines challenges to national self-awareness and identity, noting deep divisions among Ukrainians in attitudes toward country defense, depending on regional or national identity. Mobilization and low societal responsibility, especially in some groups, have worsened due to the war’s impact.
He also highlights problems in the information environment: unverified news streams and manipulation via social media decrease public understanding and responsibility.
At the state management level, power has shifted toward presidential paternalism, weakening parliament and political parties’ agency. Political analysis and journalism, Portnikov argues, now mostly chronicle the ongoing crisis rather than analyze a living political process in the classic sense.
He calls for creating a responsible society that retains Ukrainian identity, monitors events, understands priorities, and is ready to determine the country's future after the war.
