Rebuilding in Ukraine

The West's investment will be returned in the form of increased global security and prosperity based on liberal democratic values – rather than a new order in part based on Putin's prejudices.

At the same time, the vast majority of our country is at peace and, as any eyewitness can attest, Ukrainians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds live, work, do business, and study together with a quiet optimism about a better society.

Indeed, what started at Maidan cannot be stopped. Our society is determined to realise the reforms that will let us live normal lives – and that means being culturally and economically part of the wider world. It's frankly a very exciting and increasingly global place to be.

I believe we need to do everything we can to open the door to Australians and give you the opportunity to live, work, do business and study with us. Poland and the Czech Republic in the 90s were in part transformed – for their benefit and for the benefit of the international community – by thousands of internationals pursuing new opportunities. Australian trade and Australian human exchange with those countries has boomed.

Opportunities exist in sectors like higher education, media and communications, design and fashion, and service industries, as Ukrainians represent a unique combination of high educational levels, very competitive labour costs, strong English language skills, and strong middle class aspirations.

I've recently come across a young Australian who has founded an internationally-focused IT start-up here in Kyiv because there's great lifestyle, a very rich cultural context, smart people to work with, and good profit margins.

So, look at us not through the prism of tragedy and war, but through the prism of a society that is truly on the rise and where young people especially have a unique chance to show their personal and democratic creativity.

For Australia and Ukraine going forward, to use an Australian expression, it should be glass half-full.