Life in Impeachland: what it feels like to be a Ukrainian journalist in Washington

Ukrainian journalist Ostap Yarysh in his blog on the site "Voice of America" talked about his work in Washington.

Фото: Depositphotos

The following is the text of the author.

I moved to live and work in the United States in early April 2019. The day after the move, presidential elections were held in Ukraine. Six months later, the new president Zelensky and Ukraine were at the center of the political drama in Washington, which led to the impeachment of Donald trump. If I had been told all this before moving to the States, I would have laughed. Now I understand: I got here at the best time in order to be a Ukrainian journalist in the United States.

At the beginning of 2014, the attention of the whole world was riveted to Ukraine: foreign journalists monitored the development of the Revolution of Dignity, then the occupation of Crimea and the outbreak of war in the Donbass. But later this interest began to fade. The refugee crisis, Brexit, and the US presidential election gradually occupied the information field, and less and less began to talk about Ukraine in the West.

On the subject: Why journalists in the State Department are led through the kitchen and how diplomats behave outside the cells

Ukrainians had to constantly recall the forgotten war with Russia and fight for the interest of international media. This is difficult in conditions when so many other important things are happening in the world. But on July 25, 2019, Trump and Zelensky had a telephone conversation, which, as it turned out later, changed everything.

The beginning of autumn in the USA was very stormy. I woke up and heard Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine on every morning newscast on CNN or FOX. As a rule, after this the words “corruption”, “impeachment”, “quid pro quo” and other things were heard that did not really contribute to creating a positive image. It was starting to get tiresome. As I walked down the street, it seemed that people around me were looking back at me. Of course, this was not the case. But when your country finds itself at the center of the biggest political scandal in the United States in the last 20 years, it is difficult to ignore it.

At first, I thought that such an interest only in Washington, until I went on a business trip to Texas. I remember sitting in a small cafe on the border with Mexico and eating my tacos. There was a TV in the corner that broadcasted local news without sound. At one point I glanced at the screen - and guess who they showed there? Vladimir Zelensky. They talked about Ukraine even here.

After the impeachment proceedings began, I noticed how the Americans' attitude towards me changed. When they met, their reaction switched from a politely indifferent “Oh, Ukraine” to an interested “Oh, Ukraine!” I had a new entertainment: while introducing myself, I tried to guess how my interlocutor would react.

Republican conservatives and voters complained that Ukraine always creates problems. Some asked whether we really interfered in the 2016 elections, and one day I was even seriously asked if the reason for moving to the USA was that it was dangerous to be a journalist in Ukraine.

Ostap Yarysh. Photo: screenshot of Voice of America video

Liberals and Democratic supporters reacted very differently. It's funny, but several times I was thanked for the fact that the Ukrainians elected Zelensky as president. Some, on the contrary, apologized for dragging Ukraine into American politics and clapping on the shoulder with a sympathetic expression.

But my favorite part is the humor. Being from Ukraine makes you the perfect butt of jokes in Washington. The owner of the apartment I rent likes to joke that it’s now risky to do business with me: “What if I’m accused of financial ties with Ukraine?” When someone broke the door in the hall of our house, he jokingly asked if it was me by chance - “Since these days all the problems in Washington are created by the Ukrainians.”

After returning home from vacation, I heard from my American acquaintances: “Well, did you find something bad about Biden?” And one bartender even said that I look like Zelensky. The fact that a bartender in the United States basically knows what the President of Ukraine looks like no longer surprises anyone.

Naturally, the impeachment story also affected my work. At first, every day brought urgent news, it was difficult to keep up with them, I was tired, but I could not tear myself away from the hearings in Congress and the published documents. It's like watching a political series in real time, where the main storyline is developing around your country.

But along with this, I saw a lot of distortion in the American media and Congress. Republicans have repeatedly mentioned that Ukraine ranks third in the world in corruption, referring to a poll from the time of Yanukovych. And once a Republican congressman even declared that in 2008 Ukraine attacked Georgia.

On the subject: Mr. Jones: the story of a journalist who told the world about the Holodomor and interviewed Stalin

Democrats argued that due to the delay in military assistance, Ukrainians die almost daily. This created the false impression that the Ukrainian army is completely and completely dependent on American aid, and without it it is not operational.

After Christmas, the impeachment process stopped. I exhaled, expecting that now they will talk less about Ukraine in Washington. But a few days later, Iran shot down an UIA plane - and the morning news broadcasts started again from Ukraine.

"Seriously? Why should Ukraine be everywhere?” - asked the owner of the apartment. And honestly, I didn’t know what to answer. All I knew was that I came here at the best time to be a Ukrainian journalist in the United States. And that after six months of intense media attention, Americans will no longer perceive Ukraine the same way as before.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Media: Ukraine requires the United States to return $ 30 million for weapons

Media: at a closed meeting in Kiev, Pompeo said that 'Crimea is lost' for Ukraine forever

How the acquittal case justified Trump’s reelection

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.