Ukraine’s First President Leonid Kravchuk Dies @ 88 Years Old- President Leonid Kravchuk passed away. Here is everything you need to learn about him.
Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk (January 10, 1934 – May 10, 2022) was the first president of Ukraine, serving from December 5, 1991, until July 19, 1994.
When he signed the Lisbon Protocol in 1992, he committed to hand over Ukraine’s nuclear weapons. He has also served as Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and People’s Deputy of Ukraine, representing the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (unified). Kravchuk resigned from the presidency after a political crisis involving the president and the prime minister but ran for a second term in 1994.
His former prime minister and two-term president, Leonid Kuchma, defeated him. Kravchuk remained active in Ukrainian politics after his presidency, serving in the Verkhovna Rada as a People’s Deputy of Ukraine and the parliamentary group leader of the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (United) (from 2002 to 2006).
Ukraine’s First President Leonid Kravchuk Passed Away At 88
Leonid Kravchuk, Ukraine’s first president, died on Thursday, May 10, at the age of 88, following a long illness. Ukrainian News Agency learned of this from a family source.
Following a long illness, Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk, the first President of independent Ukraine, died today, May 10, 2022, at 5 p.m. Kyiv time.
Ukraine’s first president Leonid Kravchuk died after long illness. He was 88. We, in Ukraine, have our ups and downs with our presidents,yet in the end there a lot of credits to give. This photo I made in April 2019 when Kravchuk endorsed Zelensky after the 1st round of elections pic.twitter.com/04fzvzBufR
— Nataliya Gumenyuk (@ngumenyuk) May 10, 2022
In the wake of Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk’s untimely loss, the Agency’s editorial staff expresses profound condolences to his family.
Leonid Kravchuk Was Married To Wife Antonina Mykhailivna Mishura
Leonid Kravchuk’s wife was Antonina Mykhailivna Kravchuk. In 1957, the couple married. She rarely joined her husband at official events.
Kravchuk’s only child is Oleksandr Leonidovych Kravchuk (born 1959), the head of the State Company “Nafkom-Ahro” and former FC Nafkom Brovary.
Leonid Kravchuk, the 1st President of Ukraine & the first Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the #UAarmy, has passed away. With his signature, the Evil Empire disintegrated. Thank you for the peaceful renewal of our Independence. We’re defending it now with weapons in our hands.R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/WZ8p0z1MdL
— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) May 10, 2022
Kravchuk has two grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Kravchuk lived in a state-owned dacha in Koncha-Zaspa until his death in 2022 after leaving the Ukrainian administration.
Leonid Kravchuk Political Background
Leonid Kravchuk’s political strategy was to stay out of fights and convey his position plainly. He was recognized for his wit, diplomacy, and caution. He described himself as a man who refuses to carry an umbrella in order to avoid getting wet.
Such diplomacy helped Kravchuk maintain and consolidate his influence over Ukraine during the transition from Soviet dominance to independence. He was third in command of Ukraine’s CPSU leadership when the Soviet Union came apart, despite not being a member of the ruling Dnipropetrovsk group.