Ukraine's Foreign Minister: We are Mazepists and proud of it

Andrii Sybiha and Zelensky. Photo: Sybiha’s Facebook page

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has described Zelensky’s decisions to erect a monument to Mazepa in central Kyiv and create a National Pantheon as “Ukraine’s great return.” Writing on Facebook, the diplomat claimed that “Russia’s deception” about the hetman has finally been defeated, and that the label “Mazepists” is now a source of pride.

“We are Mazepists – proud descendants of Ivan Mazepa – and we are proud of it,” the official wrote. According to him, the hetman’s name is inseparably linked with the flourishing of Ukrainian culture, the large-scale construction of sacred sites, and the rise of the Cossack Baroque style.

The government’s action plan also includes the establishment of the “Order of Europe” and preparations for the 1,000th anniversary of the Lavra’s foundation. According to Sybiha, the Foreign Ministry has already begun work in three key areas: restoring the Dormition Cathedral according to the “Notre-Dame model,” returning Ukrainian relics from abroad, and changing international rules for the protection of holy sites through UNESCO.

The minister said the strike on the Lavra cathedral exposed “Moscow’s hypocrisy,” since Russia only claims in words to be a defender of Christianity. Ukrainian diplomats are now negotiating with foreign partners to consolidate financial and political support for these initiatives.

Earlier, Zelensky said that a monument to Hetman Ivan Mazepa would be erected on Shevchenko Boulevard in Kyiv – at the site where the monument to Lenin was toppled in December 2013.

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