Part 10/15:
The Maidan uprising, which toppled President Yanukovich, was a pivotal moment that embedded nationalist and militarized elements into Ukraine's governance. Dr. Petro critiques Western narratives that portray the revolution as purely democratic; instead, he points out the role of armed militias and paramilitary groups that preempted official institutions and staged violent confrontations.
The international community's response, including Western support and the refusal to enforce the original agreement for a peaceful transfer of power, set the stage for subsequent conflict. Yanukovich, dismissed in the chaos, likely remains the last democratically elected Ukrainian president, as subsequent elections have been manipulated or overshadowed by nationalist sentiments.