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Leonid Kuchma

The second president of Ukraine · Ukraine · Politicians · Born 1938 · age 88 · also Russia

Leonid Kuchma is read about 1,200 times a day, in 82 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 22 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 397 days, one point a day.

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Ukraine's only two-term president presided over economic recovery and tighter ties with Russia while his administration censored media, arrested journalists, and was engulfed by the Cassette Scandal after the death of Georgiy Gongadze - a trajectory that ended with him mediating the Orange Revolution against his own chosen successor.

PoliticiansPoliticianPolitics20th Century

A life in dates

2003Order of the RepublicAward2002Honorary Citizen of Donetsk OblastAward1999Independence OrderAward1997“Ukraine has become a democratic State with a policy aimed at ensuring the needs and rights of its citizens, and at establishing a civil society.”In their wordsSpeech at the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (excerpts) (1997)

“The future of the world order, of the United Nations and of every country, is our common future.”In their wordsSpeech at the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (excerpts) (1997)

Order of the White Eagle (Third Polish Republic)Award1996Collar of the Spanish Order of the Civil MeritAwardGrand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of FinlandAward1995“My pride is for the wisdom and far-sightedness of the founders of the United Nations, who actually laid the foundation of a new world order.”In their wordsSpeech at the 50th session of the United Nations General Assembly (excerpts) (1995)

“The disappearance of a world divided into antagonistic systems is related to profound internal transformations in post-socialist countries.”In their wordsSpeech at the 50th session of the United Nations General Assembly (excerpts) (1995)

Honorary Doctor of the China Foreign Affairs UniversityAward1994“The history of mankind testifies that peace and development, democratization and the humanization of the world community are integral components of the general global process.”In their wordsSpeech at the 49th session of the United Nations General Assembly (excerpts) (1994)

“An old truth asserts that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”In their wordsSpeech at the 49th session of the United Nations General Assembly (excerpts) (1994)

1938Born9 August 1938

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Leonid KuchmaLeonid KuchmaAlexander Negoda, Yuri Smetanin, Vasily Budnik, Nikolai Gerasyuta, Leonid KuchmaAlexander Negoda, Yuri Smetanin, Vasily Budnik, Nikolai Gerasyuta, Leonid KuchmaIvan Davydenko 2022Ivan Davydenko 2022Leonid Kuchma 1994 (cropped)Leonid Kuchma 1994 (cropped)Präsidentschaftswahl in der Ukraine 1999 StichwalPräsidentschaftswahl in der Ukraine 1999 StichwalБобул із сином та КучмаБобул із сином та КучмаБронзовый барельеф Леониду Кучме на площади 80-летия Днепропетровщины в ДнепреБронзовый барельеф Леониду Кучме на площади 80-летия Днепропетровщины в ДнепреВ.З. Брагилевский и второй президент Украины Л.Д.КучмаВ.З. Брагилевский и второй президент Украины Л.Д.Кучма

In their own words 10

,
Leonid Kuchma
,
10 statements, newest first

  1. Ukraine has become a democratic State with a policy aimed at ensuring the needs and rights of its citizens, and at establishing a civil society.

    1997, Speech at the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (excerpts) (1997), Own words

  2. Ukraine has consistently conducted, and is determined to continue, a policy aimed at strengthening security and stability throughout the world.

    1997, Speech at the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (excerpts) (1997), Own words

  3. The future of the world order, of the United Nations and of every country, is our common future.

    1997, Speech at the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (excerpts) (1997), Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Order of the Republic2003
Honorary Citizen of Donetsk Oblast2002
Independence Order1999
Order of the White Eagle (Third Polish Republic)1997
Collar of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit1996
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland1996
Honorary Doctor of the China Foreign Affairs University1995
State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 1st class
Honorary Citizen of Yerevan
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Star of Romania
Medal of 25 Years of Ukrainian Independence
Lenin Prize
Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great
Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
Order of the Golden Eagle
Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry
Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Order of Outstanding Merit
Family Order of Laila Utama
Astana Medal
Honorary Citizen of Kryvyi Rih
Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali
Order of Vytautas the Great
Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
Order of the White Eagle
Order of Civil Merit
Order of Prince Henry
Royal Order of the Seraphim
Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
Order of the Liberator General San Martín
Grand Order of Mugunghwa
Order of St. Vladimir the Equal-to-the-Apostles
Order of Bethlehem
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Order of the Great September Revolution 1969
Star of the Republic of Indonesia
Order of the White Elephant

Family

Leonid Kuchma

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About this person

Born 9 August 1938, Kuchma rose through the Soviet machine-building industry before entering politics in 1990 as a member of the Verkhovna Rada. He served as Prime Minister from October 1992 to September 1993, then defeated incumbent Leonid Kravchuk in the 1994 presidential election. Corruption accelerated under his watch, and in 1999 his administration launched a campaign of media censorship that led to journalist arrests and the death of Georgiy Gongadze, triggering the Cassette Scandal and mass protests. The economy declined until 1999, then recorded growth from 2000 onward, bringing relative prosperity to some urban residents while Ukrainian-Russian relations improved. He won re-election in 1999 but declined a third term in 2004, backing Viktor Yanukovych - then took a neutral stance as the Orange Revolution unfolded, mediating between the rival camps. Between 2014 and 2020, he served as Ukraine's special representative at quasi peace talks over the war in Donbas.

Country
Ukraine
Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
living
Dates
Born 1938 · age 88

Politicians from Ukraine 6

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