Thread by @Kyiv

Aug 1 marks 34 years since the infamous "Chicken Kyiv speech". It was one of the biggest misreads in the US foreign policy. Washington got Ukraine wrong. Today it risks doing the same mistake all again.

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On Aug 1, 1991, on the eve of the USSR's collapse, President George H.W. Bush visited Kyiv and сalled on Ukrainians not to pursue independence. Speaking before the Ukrainian parliament, he urged Ukraine to stay in the Soviet Union and support Russia’s “reforms”.

This infamous speech was named “Chicken Kyiv” — after the Ukrainian dish, but with a twist on America’s cowardice.

Just weeks later, on Aug 24, the Ukrainian parliament proclaimed independence. And on Dec 1, 90,32% of Ukrainians voted in favor of independent Ukraine in a nationwide referendum. This marked the end of the Soviet Union and the decades of totalitarian occupation.

In 1991, the US underestimated Ukraine and overestimated Russia.
And now it’s making the same mistake. Western leaders still believe in the myth of a “strong, stable Russia.” They fear its collapse more than Ukraine’s defeat. But Russia is not strong. It’s a dying empire.

Instead of asking: “What if Russia loses?"

Ask: “What if Ukraine does?”

Caution only emboldens Putin and costs lives. The aggressor understands force, not appeasement.

In 1991, Ukrainians broke an empire.
Today, we’re doing it again — under fire.

We don’t need saving — we need support. Give Ukraine everything to finish what we started.

DON’T CHICKEN ̶K̶Y̶I̶V̶ OUT!