Remembering Oleksandr Shulhyn: Birthday of the Ukrainian People's Republic's First Foreign Minister

Oleksandr Shulhyn: Diplomat, Historian, and Publicist

According to МЗС: Oleksandr Shulhyn was a celebrated diplomat, historian, and publicist who served as the first minister of foreign affairs of the Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR). His diplomatic career began in December 1917, when he took the helm of the UPR's General Secretariat for International Affairs, a position that proved pivotal in shaping the fledgling state's foreign policy. His story offers a window into the challenges that early Ukrainian statehood faced.

Subsequently, Shulhyn was appointed ambassador of the Ukrainian State to Bulgaria, where he worked vigorously to advance Ukrainian interests. In 1919, he joined the UPR delegation at the Paris Peace Conference, focusing on securing international recognition for Ukraine. While in France, he also served as head of the UPR's Extraordinary Diplomatic Mission.

Life in Exile and Enduring Legacy

After the loss of Ukrainian statehood, Shulhyn carried on his diplomatic work in exile, serving as foreign affairs minister for the State Center of the Ukrainian People's Republic. He also lectured at Ukrainian universities in Prague and edited academic journals. A vocal opponent of the Holodomor and Soviet repression, he devoted himself to aiding Ukrainian refugees and improving their circumstances.

Oleksandr Shulhyn passed away in Paris on March 4, 1960, and was laid to rest at the cemetery in Sarcelles, a suburb of Paris. This article is dedicated to the memory of an outstanding diplomat whose work left a profound imprint on the history of Ukrainian diplomacy.

Shulhyn's actions played a key role in shaping Ukraine's foreign policy amid the instability of the early twentieth century. His pursuit of international recognition for the UPR and his defense of Ukrainian interests during a turbulent historical period underscore the importance of his contribution. He remains a crucial figure for understanding Ukraine's long struggle for independence and its efforts to gain global support.