“We Need a Strategy for Positioning Ukraine in the World. Our Philosophy Must Become Ukraine-Centered,” — Ruslan Shostak at the Opening of the Ukrainian School of Management
Ruslan Shostak, President of TERWIN Corporation, spoke at the opening of the Ukrainian School of Management, where together with leading figures of the country he discussed the question: “Why Does the World Need Ukraine?”
The opening of the Ukrainian School of Management took place in Kyiv — a meaningful platform for leaders in business, government, civil society, and the Defense Forces. The event featured an in-depth panel discussion on the topic: “Why Does the World Need Ukraine?” It brought together representatives from key sectors of society — government, the military, the church, culture, and business. Among the speakers were businessman Ruslan Shostak, the third President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, Ukrainian military leader Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav, and film director Iryna Tsilyk.
Representing business, Ruslan Shostak emphasized the importance of strategic thinking in shaping Ukraine’s global positioning. According to him, the question “Why Does the World Need Ukraine?” should not be asked of Ukrainians, but of the international audience — to understand what value the world sees in Ukraine.
In his view, the answer may be unexpected: “The world is not interested in Ukraine if it does not know or understand its value.” He reminded that Ukraine has for centuries built Europe’s economic and cultural foundation and defended it from external threats — from the Mongol-Tatar invasion to modern Russian aggression.
“I think this question needs to be turned 180 degrees: what value does the world represent for Ukraine? The answer could evolve into a strategy,” Shostak noted.
In this context, he pointed to the importance of the strongest army as an instrument for safeguarding economic interests and freedom; to foreign investments and technologies that could be attracted by offering the world Ukraine’s natural resources for various industries; to global demand for Ukrainian goods, the strategic importance of land, tourism potential, and much more.
“We must create value for the world, starting from the interests of our own country. There has to be a strategy for positioning Ukraine internationally, for building and advocating its interests. Our philosophy must become Ukraine-centered. This is an essential task for the government, business, and Ukraine’s cultural sphere,” Shostak shared.