Ukrainian studies - exceptional or merely exemplary?

The significance of studying Ukrainian history must be emphasized, if only to counter the views of some Poles and Russians who do not regard Ukraine as a separate ethnic community. However, any attempt at Ukrainian studies must be propelled by scholarly, rather than pragmatic, reasons. Ukrainian history must be studied for the intellectual challenges such an undertaking would pose. In its turn, the Ukrainian government should help in improving the lot of the humanities, including Ukrainian studies.