The Guardian’s chief culture writer Charlotte Higgins attended the presentation of the ‘Ukrainian History Global Initiative’ on November 27, 2023, at the British Museum in London.
Timothy Snyder, Yaroslav Hrytsak, and Serhii Plokhii, the co-chairs of the project’s Academic Council, along with Victor Pinchuk, the Initiative’s founder, emphasized the project’s aim: to highlight Ukraine’s contribution to world history by offering a fresh perspective on global events through the lens of Ukraine’s past.
Charlotte Higgins quotes Timothy Snyder’s striking observation: “The whole history of the Second World War looks different if you understand that Germany’s main war aim was the conquest of Ukraine.” This reframing of historical narratives is central to the project’s mission. By highlighting the importance of Ukraine in global events, the Ukrainian History Global Initiative challenges traditional narratives shaped by centuries of Russian influence.
The Ukrainian History Global Initiative is a groundbreaking project that brings together 90 leading Ukrainian and international historians to reclaim Ukraine’s rich and complex history from the shadow of Russian and Soviet narratives.
