In an interview with R.Politik, Jarábik shared his motivations for launching Essential Ukraine: “This is a personal transition. After six years in government, I’m returning to the private sector—and to public writing. I’ve lived nearly eight years in Kyiv, starting in 1998, and Ukraine has been at the center of my professional life ever since. When many of my peers focused westward, I was drawn east. So for me, this isn’t just geopolitics—it’s personal. With everything at stake, I felt a responsibility to use that experience to offer something grounded, honest, and strategic.”
Essential Ukraine is a bi-monthly publication offering in-depth analysis of Ukraine's internal political landscape, institutions, and societal transformations. Unlike other services, Essential Ukraine prioritizes depth and realism over frequency, focusing on the structural and societal changes influenced by the ongoing conflict.