“The second most dangerous moment for Ukraine [the full-scale invasion being the first] might be the beginning of so-called ‘peace,’ because this won’t be a full-scale peace. A full-scale peace would be: You have all your territory; Russia is defeated, pays reparations; Vladimir Putin and others, his henchmen, are in front of a tribunal in the Hague.” British historian Timothy Garton Ash gave an open lecture at UCU.

One of today’s most cited historians, Timothy Garton Ash, gave a lecture at UCU: “Ukraine and Europe alone in the world of Donald Trump.” This was part of the project “Global Ukraine,” organized by UCU, the UCU Business School, and the Sheptytsky Center. The meeting was moderated by UCU Professor Yaroslav Hrytsak.

Timothy G. Ash is Professor of European Studies at the University of Oxford, a journalist and writer. In his works, the British historian focuses on researching Eastern Europe, beginning with the period of the establishment of Communism. His works turn attention to the dangers facing Europe.

Presenting the speaker, Professor Yaroslav Hrytsak noted that Timothy Ash is not only a historian but also a historical figure. He can find meaning even in what to the majority seems meaningless.

Yaroslav Hrytsak

Prof. Ash has visited Ukraine a number of times. This is his third visit to Ukrainian Catholic University.

Timothy Ash said how, when he is in Lviv and Kyiv, he, first of all, visits the graves of Ukrainian soldiers, where he sees “how the ‘forest’ of graves and flags just grows and grows.” In Lviv he visited the grave of a young man, an acquaintance of his, who died fighting near Bakhmut.

The lecture of Timothy Ash

Here are a few themes from Timothy Ash’s lecture at UCU:

The present is the period in which we are living, our time. In that sense the present began, not just for Ukraine but for Europe, on the 24th of February, 2022. This date is the beginning of a new period in world history.

For Ukraine, the Orange Revolution of 2004 was the start of self-awareness, the consolidation of independence, sovereignty, and democracy.

In the period since 2022, there have been three great shocks: the Putin shock, the post-Western world shock, and the Trump-shock.

The Putin shock – the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is the largest war in Europe since 1945, started by Putin.

The post-Western world shock. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the collective West became aware that there exists a whole world of large and medium-sized countries: China, India, Turkey, Brazil, South Africa. They continue doing business with Russia, regardless of the fact that it is conducting a brutal neocolonial war. Thanks to four decades of globalization, these countries have become wealthy and powerful enough to oppose the West.

The Trump-shock – for 80 years the United States of America did the most for the building, consolidation, and defense of the liberal international order. And now it is destroying all this. Donald Trump in fact stands on a clear side in the war in Ukraine. And he is closer to Vladimir Putin than to Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump makes absolutely infuriating, laughable, and deceitful statements that Ukraine began the war, etc.

The West as a geopolitical player will not exist after four years or so [during Trump’s term – ed.]. For many, and me in particular, this is a shocking statement. But it’s important to look truth in the eye.

It all depends on us, first of all on the defense of Ukraine and then on the defense of Europe. And when I say “defense,” I have in mind not only in military terms but also in economic, political, digital, democratic, etc. And we live in an exceptional period of world history.

Attendees at Timothy Ash’s lecture

The first most dangerous moment for Ukraine was the beginning of the full-scale war. The second is the beginning of so-called ‘peace,’ because this won’t be a full-scale peace. A full-scale peace would be: You [Ukrainians] have all your territory; Russia is defeated, pays reparations; Vladimir Putin and others, his henchmen, are in front of a tribunal in the Hague. And then everything changes. This is full-scale work. This is what long-lasting victory would be.

At the end of the lecture, which was held on Vyshyvanka Day, Yaroslav Hrytsak presented Timothy Ash with an embroidered shirt (vyshyvanka), which he happily received and immediately put on.