From Orange Revolution to War: A struggle foretold, says former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in AnewZ Exclusive

In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with AnewZ, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, a central figure in the 2004 Orange Revolution, asserted that the current full-scale war with Russia is the culmination of a centuries-long struggle for sovereignty.

Speaking with AnewZ host Orkhan Amashov, Yushchenko provided a stark historical context for the ongoing conflict, framing it not as a recent development but as the 24th war between the two nations.

"To give a truly comprehensive answer, I need to open several pages of our history," Yushchenko began. "In the 20th century, Ukraine declared independence six times... Five times we lost our independence, and the reason was always the same: Russia."

He argued that Russia's imperial self-image has never allowed for a truly sovereign Ukraine, citing Vladimir Lenin's historical directive to his commander: "Remember, losing Ukraine is the same as losing one's head. Without Ukraine, the Russian empire could not exist."

Yushchenko, who served as president from 2005 to 2010, positioned the Orange Revolution as a definitive turn away from Moscow's orbit. The movement's primary goal, he stated, was to "reorient Ukraine's foreign policy towards Europe, where we have always belonged as a European nation."

Crimea's Annexation: Was the Clash Inevitable?

Reflecting on the years following his presidency, Amashov posed a critical question: could Ukraine have done anything differently in the years after the Orange Revolution to avert the 2014 annexation of Crimea?

Yushchenko firmly placed the responsibility on Russia's imperial doctrine, which he said was formalized after the Orange Revolution. "To understand the context of the Ukrainian-Russian relations... it is necessary to go back to Putin's speech at the Munich Security Conference," he explained. "That is when the theory of the 'Russian World' emerged, aimed at restoring, above all, territory and the might once held by the Soviet Union."

He listed a series of Russian military interventions in neighboring countries—Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Transnistria, and Donbas—as proof of an unchangeable pattern of aggression.

"This proves that Russia's main export, especially to its neighbors, is not oil, gas, or timber. It is war. It is occupation," Yushchenko declared.

He argued that the conflict was unavoidable because it stemmed from a fundamental clash of ideologies. He compared Russia to a "prison of nations," with 160 indigenous peoples, most of whom have lost their language and culture. In contrast, the Orange Revolution sought to establish democracy, freedom of speech, and consolidate a distinct Ukrainian national identity.

A Former President's View on Zelenskyy's Wartime Leadership

When asked by Amashov to evaluate the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his successor nine years removed, Yushchenko offered a positive assessment of his performance during the war.

"I believe President Zelenskyy has significantly grown into his presidential role over the past few years," he said. "The work that President Zelenskyy is doing, especially during the period of Russian occupation, is work that responds appropriately to the challenges we face, above all on the frontline."

He emphasized the remarkable unity of the Ukrainian people as a key factor in the nation's resilience. "The Ukrainian nation speaks with one voice. We have no internal divisions that would weaken our strength or capabilities."

Lessons from Karabakh and the Definition of Victory

Amashov drew a parallel to Azerbaijan's recent restoration of its territorial integrity in Karabakh, asking if Ukraine could learn from that experience.

Yushchenko described Azerbaijan's approach as a "chapter in the diplomatic textbook," praising the long-term, multi-pronged strategy. "For 31 years, diplomacy was at work... On the other hand, a new security policy was in place... I believe this is a valuable lesson in how to build strategic relations and how important it is to have strategic partners, in this case, I mean Turkiye."

For Ukraine, he concluded, the path to victory is equally non-negotiable and requires a similar combination of military strength and steadfast alliances. He rejected any notion of a compromise that would cede Ukrainian territory.

"The question of victory or defeat is answered in only one way: Victory. Only the return of all national territories," Yushchenko stated with conviction. "Putin must surrender, just as Hitler surrendered... We must restore full sovereignty over every square centimeter of Ukrainian land. This is not a topic for debate."

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