UK Former Prime Minister, The Rt Hon David Cameron, Gave Public Lecture “Ukraine’s Place in a Changing World” at the Invitation of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation

On March 29, David Cameron, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2010-2016), at the invitation of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, gave a public lecture “Ukraine’s Place in a Changing World” in Kyiv. More than 2000 Ukrainian students, scholars and opinion-makers were among the listeners of the lecture.

In his remarks David Cameron said that in order to become a global success story Ukraine should keep in mind four major issues: to keep up Ukraine’s profile on the world scene; to preserve the spirit of cooperation with the USA; to maintain and bolster its defences; and to tackle corruption.

Prime Minister Cameron underlined that all these efforts are essential for Ukraine’s future and for the improvement of the investment environment. “But for that to be realised the rule of law must be maintained. Investors want and need the fullest protection,” he said.

Addressing the young people in the audience, David Cameron emphasised how important they are for the country: “Ukraine needs young people who want to build their future right here!”

Businessman and philanthropist Victor Pinchuk, as the moderator of the lecture, opened the Q&A section with the question about an effective security strategy for Ukraine. While admitting that Western countries should provide more support to Ukraine, Mr. Cameron said: “One of the best guarantees of Ukraine’s security is Ukraine’s success.”

David Cameron answered numerous questions from Ukrainian youth concerning Brexit, Minsk agreement, fake news, paying particular attention to the issues of populism and corruption.

The Prime Minister addressed the causes of populism. He said that governments should make efforts to combat poverty and unemployment and educate people with the skills they need to succeed in the modern world.

Talking about last year’s referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, Mr Cameron said: “I thought it right to hold the referendum because this issue had been poisoning British politics for years. Referendums have been promised and not held. The EU had changed and had more powers, and people were not consulted. That is why I made a promise to hold the referendum. And I think it was the right thing to do. We held the referendum, and of course, the result was not the result that I sought, but it was a decisive result. That’s why today Theresa May, quite rightly, is taking the next step to ensuring that the people’s will is followed through,” he continued.

Mr. Cameron accentuated the importance of fighting against corruption as it is “a cancer that can kill a country.” He noted that people in the government should be the ones who “serve their country.”

Besides giving the lecture, David Cameron met with the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman as well as young Ukrainian reform facilitators. The former Head of British Government also visited the centre for contemporary art the PinchukArtCentre.