{"id":25788,"date":"2026-02-08T09:40:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T17:40:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/?p=25788"},"modified":"2026-02-08T09:41:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T17:41:02","slug":"intelekt-i-mahnetyzm-vitaliia-portnykova-zakhopyv-audytoriiu-v-berkli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vilni-media.com\/en\/2026\/02\/08\/intelekt-i-mahnetyzm-vitaliia-portnykova-zakhopyv-audytoriiu-v-berkli\/","title":{"rendered":"The Intellect and Magnetism of Vitalii Portnykov Captivated the Berkeley Audience"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"On Wednesday, February 4, a meeting with the well-known Ukrainian journalist and blogger Vitalii Portnykov took place with the Ukrainian diaspora at the University of California, Berkeley. His speeches are always timely, well-argued, balanced, and at the same time deeply emotional\u2014they draw listeners like a magnet, prompting reflection on oneself, the world, and the events unfolding around us. This time, the audience included more than 60 university professors, students, and invited guests.<\/b><\/p>

Vitalii Portnykov began his talk by recalling that it was here in Berkeley\u2014one of the most prestigious public universities in the United States\u2014that a large-scale protest against the Vietnam War took place in May 1969. That protest escalated into violent clashes with law enforcement and became a landmark event, demonstrating the continuation of the protest movement in the U.S. In 1970, Americans protested against the deployment of troops to Cambodia. The consequences of these protests proved tragic\u2014not only for the protesters themselves, but also for the peoples of those countries. Deprived of American support, Vietnam and Cambodia became communist totalitarian states. The result was a reluctance on the part of the United States to take responsibility for freedom and democracy in the world.<\/span><\/p>

The signing of the agreement between North Vietnam and the United States and the withdrawal of American troops marked a defeat for the U.S.\u2014largely theoretical for Americans, but very real for the population of South Vietnam. Thousands were killed or sent to concentration camps, millions were expelled from Saigon, and the city itself was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. Similar, but even more horrific events unfolded in Cambodia: cities destroyed, nearly half of the population killed, and urban residents deported to labor camps.<\/span><\/p>

In the remainder of his address, Vitalii Portnykov offered his own well-founded interpretation of contemporary realities, an assessment of the past, and a vision of the future.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"We cannot reproduce the entire speech, but below are its key ideas and statements:<\/span><\/p>