Dear Sir,   

I would like to express my deep concern about the way you described the situation in Ukraine in your article “Henry Marsh: 'Ukraine is like a Trabant that wants to be a Ferrari”, published in the Guardian on November 26, 2017, which as I understand was supposed to be foremost about the healthcare system of Ukraine within the framework of a touching story of the British neurosurgeon Henry Marsh and his assistance to the Ukrainian colleagues.

I have to regretfully admit that its red line turned out to be a mixture of the Russian propaganda slogans which the Kremlin is spreading extensively in the Western societies as an instrument of its dirty propaganda.

1. Regarding “the civil war” in Ukraine.

Let me be clear: there is no civil war in Ukraine. The whole civilized world, including all the leading international organizations, namely UN, OSCE and Council of Europe, have already acknowledged that there is the Kremlin’s wide scale military aggression in Eastern Ukraine which started in 2014. It was also clearly stated in the 2016 annual report of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

Gambling with such wording creates a false and misleading
perception of what is going on in Eastern Ukraine.

1. Regarding the “country torn apart by the Euromaidan conflict of 2013”.

Ukraine and its Western partners have immediately rebuffed the Russian-orchestrated campaign naming events in Ukraine’s capital in 2013 as “Euromaidan conflict” or “coup d'état”. It was a Revolution of Dignity which showed an unprecedented rise of patriotism among Ukrainians who united against tyranny and authoritarianism and bringing Ukraine again back under the Russian umbrella.  

1. Regarding the “horrors of endemic antisemitism”.

It is quite surprising to hear such claim especially as Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Eliav Belotsercovsky and renowned representatives of the Jewish community in Ukraine and Europe, namely Mr. Yosyf Zisels, have repeatedly said that there is no problem of antisemitism in Ukraine and some single cases are much rare than in most European countries. I would recommend you to talk to them first before planting such false accusations against Ukrainians. 

1. Regarding the poverty and corruption

In your article Dr. H.Marsh says that Ukrainians must sort out their problems for themselves; the poverty and corruption of the country will not be solved quickly. Ukraine certainly has its homework to do in order to achieve further progress on reforms, including the national healthcare system. Lots of systemic troubles indeed take some time to be solved. But we definitely shall succeed in our reforms path. Ukraine’s European partners, including the UK, support us on our way and have already repeatedly said that in last 3 years Ukrainian Government achieved more than any other one since my country gained independence 26 years ago.