The government can influence conflicts between society and the government, since it is an active participant in them, but it is much more difficult for it to influence conflicts within society, notes the second president of Ukraine (1994-2005) Leonid Kuchma, emphasizing the importance of preventing such conflicts.

"For me, Maidan is, first of all, a conflict between society and the government. It is obvious, it is taking place in the very heart of the country, near its main institutions, which further emphasizes its obviousness. It is localized, which ultimately helps to resolve it quickly. And splits within society arise in different places and at different levels," Kuchma said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

The second president noted that the most alarming moment of the Orange Revolution in 2004 for him was the attempt by representatives of the Party of Regions to bring their supporters to Kyiv and simulate a "Maidan in reverse", which could have led to clashes between supporters of opposing political forces.

"The government can regulate the Maidans by restraining itself - unfortunately, not always, as 2014 showed - because it is an active participant in this conflict. But it is much more difficult for it to influence conflicts within society when they have already flared up," Kuchma emphasized.

He expressed hope that the war with the Russian Federation had made Ukrainian society even more mature and responsible. "It has realized the vital need for its own strong state, no matter what bills it presents to it. It was not for this that our people went to the front and territorial defense from the first hours of the Russian invasion, it was not for this that they are today giving almost their last to raise money for the army, so that tomorrow they can with their own hands threaten what they are defending ... I hope that both the government and society will have enough wisdom and survival instinct to prevent new Maidans," the second president said.

Regarding the splits in society, in his opinion, now “cracks are already running through the stone” and it is necessary to prepare to prevent possible splits in the future.

"Some fought, and some did everything to avoid it. Some stayed in Ukraine the whole time, and some left immediately. Some sacrificed their lives and health, and some bought their way out. Some supported the Armed Forces of Ukraine with their meager earnings, and some got rich by weakening the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I am not even talking about the questions (not legal, but purely emotional) that will arise for many after the deoccupation of the territories. These future splits can be seen today, and today we need to prepare to prevent them tomorrow," Kuchma emphasized.