Two years ago, Ukraine stunned the world with its response to Russia's full-scale invasion. Where did its resilience come from?

Leading Ukrainian civic activist Valerii Pekar has an answer. It's a story of a nation—and a man—undergoing two major transformations after the fall of the Soviet Union. First, a shift into freedom, then an awakening of dignity and civic activism.

Why this matters to you and me: If Russia were to defeat Ukraine, its next likely targets are NATO countries the United States is bound by treaty to defend.

Here's the back story—cultural, political, economic, and personal—behind Ukraine's extraordinary response to Russian aggression.

**Key takeaways**

7:00 The many facets of freedom after the fall of the Soviet Union
10:35 Ukrainians vote for independence
12:30 Valerii shifts from traditional to modern worldview
15:00 Moscow tries to steal an election. Ukrainians take to the streets
19:00 Valerii's speech on the Maidan about Ukraine's three revolutions
20:00 The progressive postmodern worldview emerges
23:00 Ukrainians explore a big question: what mistakes did we make ten years ago
25:30 Valerii is elected to the National Reform Council
29:30 A meeting with the President, who issues an invitation
31:00 Russia invades, and Ukraine's new horizontal networks activate
34:30 My reflections

**Resources**

Valerii's essays in the journal New Eastern Europe

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