A special issue from March 26, 2003, is dedicated to the reaction of the Ukrainian political leadership to the invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies.

On video: a report from a press conference by Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, answers to journalists' questions, a commentary on Ukraine's plan to participate in resolving the situation in Iraq through humanitarian aid and government action programs; an additional story about the international gas consortium, the work of the new Ukrainian government, the incomes of employees of military and strategic enterprises, as well as the improvement of economic indicators in connection with the international political situation.

Background: In 2003, Ukraine declared its participation in the Multinational Stabilization Force in Iraq based on UN Security Council Resolutions 1483 and 1511. President Leonid Kuchma and the Verkhovna Rada decided to send a contingent for humanitarian, security, and reconstruction tasks, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not participate in the initial invasion on March 20, 2003. Kyiv defined the mission as contributing to disarmament, security of facilities, and protection of civilians in the area of ​​responsibility. The political opposition in Ukraine criticized the decision and demanded a phased withdrawal of troops.

The Iraq War: Ukrainian Reaction

Volyn Television, 1998. Program “Before the Election. On the Ballot — 20.” 

In the studio, People's Deputy Vyacheslav Chornovil represents the People's Movement of Ukraine party on the eve of the Verkhovna Rada elections. He talks about the need for a change in power, the disunity of democratic forces, sociological polls, the composition of various political parties, and their election programs.

The program was produced by journalist Mykola Belov, cameramen Vyacheslav Belov and Oleksandr Sadovnik, director Vitaliy Herasymlyuk, and video engineers Yaroslav Kolodiy and Mykola Vashchuk. 

Vyacheslav Chornovil before the parliamentary elections

May 1, 1997, Kyiv.

A plot about the founding convention of the Republican Christian Party in Kyiv. Delegates in the corridors, in the hall, commentary by Ukrainian writer Mykola Rudenko, convention participants on stage at the table, speech by the newly elected RCP chairman Mykola Porovsky. Among the participants: 3rd Archbishop and Metropolitan of Kyiv Filaret, People's Deputies: Vyacheslav Chornovil, Mykhailo Horyn.

Reference: In 1997, the founding congress of the Republican Christian Party of Ukraine was held in Kyiv, at which the party's charter and program were adopted and Mykola Porovsky was elected chairman. The party was based on the traditions of the national liberation movement and combined the ideas of democracy with Christian moral principles, striving to build an independent state, strengthen national security, and develop civil society. The RCP was officially registered by the Ministry of Justice on July 24, 1997.

Republican Christian Party Convention

Channel One (now Public Broadcasting), issue of the program "Leaders' Discussion" from November 25, 1995.

The main topics of the discussions are the Council of Europe and Ukraine, the influence of russia on Ukraine, the legacy of the USSR. Studio guests are Volodymyr Filenko (Party of Democratic Revival of Ukraine) and Yuriy Badzio (Democratic Party of Ukraine).

The host of the program is political commentator Borys Hryvachevsky.

"Leaders' Discussion": Council of Europe and Ukraine

August 23, 2004, Kyiv.

In the video, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma awards representatives from various fields on Ukraine's Independence Day. The Ukrainian president's office, awards ceremony, speeches at the podium. 

Independence Day awards ceremony

August 18-20, 2001, Kyiv. National Television Company of Ukraine.

Video diary No. 1 about the first day of the Third World Forum of Ukrainians, which brought together representatives from 43 countries around the world. Opening credits, Ukraine Palace, grand opening of the forum, participants on stage at the table and in the hall, speech by Leonid Kuchma, performance by a musical group.

Reference: The World Forum of Ukrainians is the highest governing body of the Ukrainian World Coordination Council, a public association that convenes once every four or five years. It is held with the support of Ukrainian public organizations around the world and the Ukrainian state. The first All-Ukrainian Forum was held in Kyiv on August 21-24, 1992, on the first anniversary of Ukraine's declaration of independence.

Diary of the Third World Forum of Ukrainians


December 24, 2003, Kerch.

In the video: Kerch, people walking, different views of the sea; people taking pictures, walking, everyday life in the city; demonstration, participants holding Ukrainian and russian flags, propaganda newspapers; banners “Kerch welcomes Vladimir putin and Leonid Kuchma”, “Tuzla is a bridge of friendship” (in russian); arrival of President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and President of the russian federation Vladimir putin; signing ceremony of the treaty, speeches.

Reference: In early December 2003, Leonid Kuchma arrived in Kerch to relieve political tension around Tuzla, check the stoppage of the Russian embankment and open a new border post on the island (December 2). In Kerch, Kuchma held talks with Vladimir putin to secure the suspension of the dam construction and agree on the parameters of the legal regime of the Sea of ​​Azov and the Kerch Strait. The parties thus prepared the ground for the signing on December 24, 2003 of a bilateral agreement on cooperation between Ukraine and the russian federation in the Azov-Kerch Strait.

Ukraine—russia: Treaty on the Azov-Kerch Sea

November 18-19, 1990, Kyiv.

The video shows the visit of the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR Boris Yeltsin to sign the "Treaty between the RSFSR and the Ukrainian SSR on the Fundamentals of Interstate Relations". Yeltsin gets off the plane, the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR Leonid Kravchuk meets the Russian delegation, girls in national costumes with bread and salt, Yeltsin's speech from the rostrum in the Verkhovna Rada, deputies applaud, Leonid Kravchuk hands Yeltsin a vase - a traditional gift for high-ranking guests who are officially welcomed in the session hall.

Reference: On November 19, the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR Boris Yeltsin and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR Leonid Kravchuk signed the "Treaty between the RSFSR and the Ukrainian SSR on the Fundamentals of Interstate Relations". On the one hand, it symbolically recognized Ukraine's sovereignty, established the right to independently decide on internal and external affairs, and this looked like a diplomatic success. On the other hand, it left points for further control of Ukraine.

Yeltsin in Kyiv: agreement between the RSFSR and the Ukrainian SSR, 1990

8 October 2001, Lublin, Poland.

A plot about the visit of Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma to the Lublin Province. The Ukrainian delegation is met at the airport, the Polish president and Kuchma walk past the guard of honour, a formal meeting, the Lublin cemetery, laying flowers at the monument to the fallen soldiers of the Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR), footage of Lublin, a meeting of the European College, speeches by Kwasniewski and Kuchma, Kuchma answering journalists' questions about the downed Russian TU-154 aircraft.

Kuchma's visit to the Lublin Province

February 12, 2004, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region.

A plot about the visit of Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych to the Rodina mine (now Kryvyi Rih). Yanukovych with miners in the mine, the mine's administrative building, the mine's territory.

Yanukovych at the Rodina mine, 2004

September 8, 2004, Odessa.

The video shows Viktor Yanukovych's pre-election visit to Odessa, during which he visited a public canteen, a supermarket, and the Yaski border guard post. Children ask Yanukovych for his autograph on a campaign poster. 

Yanukovych in Odessa, 2004

24 September 2004, Ivano-Frankivsk.

The video shows the moment of the ‘egg attack’ on presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych during his election campaign visit. Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian University, students with flags and banners in support of Yanukovych near the building, chanting ‘Yushchenko!’, Yanukovych gets off the bus, the moment the egg hits him, Yanukovych is carried to another bus and taken to the hospital, airport, plane, Viktor Yanukovych's campaign manager Taras Chornovil on the runway, Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration, press conference of the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration Mykhailo Vyshyvaniuk.

Politics