Ukraine was not a democracy before the war. But now something important may have happened.

Could the last year have awakened the Ukrainians and accelerated development?

“Ukraine is fighting for democracy.” In the past year, this has been repeated a number of times. Last out was US President Joe Biden, who in a speech in Kyiv on Monday let himself be enthusiastically carried away:

“Kyiv stands by. Ukraine stands by. Democracy stands firm,” cheered President Biden. But his speechwriter seems to have forgotten something important: Ukraine is not considered a democracy, and hasn’t been for at least ten years.

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