Leonid Kuchma
Leonid Kuchma (1938–) – Second President of Ukraine
- Actions:
- Won the 1994 presidential election against Leonid Kravchuk by appealing to the eastern electorate.
- Resolved the Crimean crisis, preventing local secessionist movements under his leadership.
- Signed the Budapest Memorandum.
- Re-elected in 1998, presenting himself as a bulwark against communism and initiating economic integration with Europe.
- Privatized key sectors of the economy, stimulating growth.
- Attempted to centralize state control.
- Shifted toward Russia after the domestic scandal known as "Kuchmagate."
- Supported Viktor Yanukovych as his successor but refrained from using force to suppress the Orange Revolution.
- Significance:
- Demonstrated that Ukraine functioned differently from Russia in domestic governance and political dynamics.
- Successor and Legacy:
- Succeeded by Viktor Yushchenko.
This is part of the #Significantpersons series.