Ukrainian Lawmakers Propose a George Washington Statue: Kyiv’s Next Landmark?
Ukrainian lawmakers have introduced a proposal to erect a monument to George Washington, the first president of the United States, in the capital city of Kyiv. The draft resolution, numbered 3066, was formally submitted to the Verkhovna Rada on March 10, 2025, and is currently awaiting parliamentary review. The initiative aims to strengthen diplomatic and historical ties between Ukraine and the U.S., highlighting Washington as a symbol of democracy and leadership. If approved, the monument would be a significant addition to Kyiv’s evolving historical landscape, reflecting Ukraine’s efforts to align itself more closely with Western allies.
The proposal is spearheaded by members of the ruling Servant of the People party, including Oleksandr Kovalchuk, Mariia Mezentseva-Fedorenko, Yevheniia Kravchuk, and Halyna Yanchenko, along with independent MP Mykola Tyshchenko. According to MP Yanchenko, the statue would serve as a powerful diplomatic gesture, reinforcing the longstanding partnership between Ukraine and the United States. The move also aligns with Ukraine’s broader efforts to redefine its national symbols and public monuments, particularly in the wake of de-Sovietization initiatives that seek to remove remnants of Soviet-era influence from the country's urban spaces.
As part of this initiative, officials have suggested several potential locations for the statue, including sites where Soviet military monuments, such as those dedicated to Mykola Vatutin and Mykola Shchors, were previously dismantled. This reflects a broader trend in Ukraine of replacing Soviet-era memorials with figures representing democratic values and international solidarity. If the resolution is passed, the George Washington monument could become a landmark symbolizing Ukraine’s commitment to democratic governance, historical reorientation, and its enduring partnership with the United States.
