Yulia Tychkivska: Sometimes, you need to take up arms to fight for your values. That time is now

Yulia Tychkivska, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Kyiv, spoke at the Aspen Ideas Festival of the Aspen Institute (USA). Yulia told various stories of the struggle for freedom: her own, members of the Ukrainian Aspen Community, her family and friends. Moreover, she explained what this struggle means for Ukrainians.

Among the main points of the speech:

• For Ukraine, this is an existential war. It is personal for everyone. We all feel it is about the total extermination of everything Ukrainian –  the annihilation of our homes, families through mass murders. Whether or not countries legally qualify this as an attempt of genocide but through the level of emotion and public opinion, it became clear within hours of the Russian aggression that an existential threat to the Ukrainian people loomed. We do not have a choice but to fight for our existence. According to the UN report from June 27, more than 4731 civilians were killed and this number is an approximate which doesn’t include deaths from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. Each Ukrainian now feels as though it is personally about them or their children.
• Every lost life becomes a vacuum as we lose a part of our society. We lose people. We lose those willing to die for us, our freedom and our right to exist. That is a profound and very demanding transformation for me and the whole society. 
• Today, Ukraine and Ukrainians are changing the world. People, consciously or subconsciously, see how the greatest love is manifested in this war: love for your family and friends, fellow countrymen and your motherland. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). The world sees solidarity and courage.
• Each of us should do something everyday to help Ukraine win this war. Small things matter, big things are even more important. You are already helping if you speak out about Ukraine and spread truthful information. 

Eliot Gerson, Executive Vice President of the Aspen Institute (USA), conducted the interview.