Zelensky Says Ukraine Must Give its Youth ‘Reasons to Stay’

August 13 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky marked Ukraine’s Youth Day by calling on the government to prioritize youth policy as part of a broader push to support civilian life. Zelensky made the remarks after meeting with participants of the Ukrainian Youth Forum “Youth in Action,” saying Ukraine’s newly formed government is drafting the Cabinet of Ministers’ action program.

“This is not simply about something the state can provide,” Zelensky said. “It is much more than that.” He continued: “It is about giving people reasons to stay in Ukraine, to live in Ukraine, to plan their own lives and their families’ lives in Ukraine, and to know that Ukraine will take care of them, their family, and their future.”

Security remains top priority

Zelensky acknowledged that security remains central as the war approaches its fifth year. He also argued that civilian life cannot be treated as secondary. “There must also be absolutely concrete, clear government work to support all normal forms of social life in Ukraine,” he said, adding that Ukrainian citizens should be able to “have a normal and, as far as possible, fulfilling space to live in Ukraine.”

His remarks come as Ukraine continues to face civilian tolls amid ongoing Russian strikes, which have prompted many young Ukrainian citizens to leave the country or delay starting families.

New cabinet program still in development

Zelensky said he expects the incoming government’s program to give sufficient weight to “civilian components of life” – particularly youth policies, though he did not specify what the new measures include. For Ukrainian authorities, youth retention remains a recurring concern, as they warn a shrinking younger population could possibly complicate the country’s long-term recovery.

Ukraine completes formation of regional youth congresses

On June 23, the Mykolaiv region officially launched its own regional youth congress, bringing together 52 community representatives. Heorhiy Reshetilov, deputy head of the Mykolaiv regional administration, said the regional congresses are meant to become a platform “where proposals from communities are born” before reaching the national level.

At the beginning of July, more than 70 delegates joined the newly formed youth congress in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Regional Governor Oleksandr Hanzha reported that the congress elected a chairperson, a deputy chairperson, and a secretary. The Chamber of Regional Youth Congresses completed its formation in all regions on July 21, electing leaders and delegates under a structure created by Zelensky.

The move added 1,469 new representatives and 300 delegates to the National Congress. “For our young people, this is an opportunity to advance their initiatives at the national level – to propose ideas and projects, and to influence change,” Hanzha said in July, expressing gratitude to Zelensky for this new mechanism.

Deputy Head of the President’s Office Viktor Mykyta said on July 21 that the initiative was designed to give young Ukrainians a direct channel into policymaking, calling it a “new stage in shaping regional policy” in Ukraine.

Youth housing reforms

Prime Minister Serhii Koretsyki met with regional youth leaders Tuesday, Aug. 11, marking the launch of the Chamber of Regional Youth Congresses, while pushing for additional reforms to youth housing programs nationwide. “Each cell will accumulate the problems of its community and raise them to the level of the Chamber, and from there they will go to the highest state level,” Koretskyi said, adding that “we want young people to return to their communities with real tools for work.”

Source: kyivpost.com