Period of «Perestroika» / Период "перестройки"

A young man answers his son's questions about the period of "Perestroika"

— Do you know when the period of «Perestroika» began?

— It began in 1985. It was one of the most difficult periods in the history of Ukraine.

— How long did it take to proclaim the independence of Ukraine?

— Several years. On the 16th of July 1990 the Supreme Court of the Ukrainian Republic adopted «The Declaration of the State Sovereignty of Ukraine». Then, on the 24th of August 1991 the Supreme court adopted the «Act of the Independence of Ukraine

— And what about the people? Did they agree to be independent?

— Ukrainian people confirmed their wish to live in an independent country in the all-Ukrainian referendum on the 1st of December 1991.

— Who became the President of Ukraine?

— The President of Ukraine became Leonid Kravchuk. In 1994 Ukrainian people elected the new President, Leonid Kuchma. In 2004 Viktor Yushchenko was elected President of Ukraine.

— Surely, these events are of great historical importance for Ukraine!

— Yes, it was a landmark in the historical development of the country.