Editor’s Note: As Ukraine gets set to inaugurate its sixth president by May 30, the Kyiv Post is asking Ukrainians and those with Ukrainian ancestry who live abroad to send in their pictures (horizontal mug shots) with answers to the following three questions for publication. Please keep responses brief — no more than 200 words for each answer or 600 words in all. Include contact details for verification as well as full name, occupation and country of residence. A selection of respondents will be published periodically before Volodymyr Zelenskiy is sworn in as president. Send responses/photos with the subject header “Ukrainian Voices From Abroad” to Kyiv Post chief editor Brian Bonner at [email protected]
Philippe Schuchewytch is a Belgian energy specialist with Ukrainian roots.
Kyiv Post: What do you hope for most from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy?
Philippe Schuchewytch: Realism and efficiency. If the aim of Zelenskiy is really to defend the interests of Ukraine, I hope that he will be able to avoid chaos in the country. His new team will probably be very inexperiences, but might have to face quickly many challenges. Ukraine’s northern neighbour may be tempted to test also military abilites. Oligarchs will not easily accept losing their privileges and may block most of his political initiatives. Engaging simultaneously on many fronts may be risky
Kyiv Post: What is the No. 1 priority facing Ukraine?
Philippe Schuchewytch: Quick actions need to taken simultaneous on many issues. But the No. 1 will be to make sure that the army remains operational. Bureaucrats and corrupt managers should be removed from their posts in the defense sector. Very quickly afterwards, all judges at higher courts should be removed and replaced by a new non-corrupt generation. The adoption of a new legislation on elections is also critical. The Ukrainians need finally to see in parliament the ones whom they vote for.
Kyiv Post: What is the biggest obstacle that the new president must overcome to achieve success?
Philippe Schuchewytch: Next year will be critical for the energy sector. An embargo was already put in place by Russia on its oil products. The transit of gas represents 10 percent of the Ukraine economy and may be interrupted by the end of this year. The presently used virtual gas supply schemes may become unfeasible. Next year, Ukraine may therefore experience gas deficits. If the blockade in the Azov Sea becomes more efficient, coking coal supply to the steel plants in Mariupol may be interrupted. The economy of the Azov Sea represents again around 10 percent of the Ukrainian economy.
