Address of the President of Ukraine on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War 1939—1945
We are returning to our state an honest history without ideological admixture. It is on May 8 that most peoples of the world remember the greatness of the victory over Nazism. It is on May 8 that the world commemorates all whose lives were taken away by the war. It was on May 8 that the Act of Unconditional Surrender to the Wehrmacht entered into force.
Today I submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a draft law proposing to establish May 8 as the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War 1939-1945.
We will never forget the contribution of the Ukrainian people to the victory over Nazism. And we will not let it lie as if victory in that war could have taken place without the participation of some country or people. Just as we destroyed evil together then, so now we destroy similar evil together. Unfortunately, evil is back. Although the aggressor is now different, he has the same goal - enslavement or destruction. And as then we relied on the common strength of free peoples, so now we fight evil together with the free world, together with a free Europe. And we will win! There will be a day of our victory — the Victory Day of Ukraine. There will be!
Many years ago, the tradition of celebrating Europe Day on May 9 was established on our continent — to celebrate the achieved peace and unity. Today, unity on our continent brings us closer to celebrating the first day of our peace. And it will be right to celebrate Europe Day together with the whole free Europe.
Today I signed the relevant decree, and every year from tomorrow, May 9, we will honor our historic unity — the unity of all Europeans who destroyed Nazism and will defeat Rascism. Unity that brings peace closer.
Eternal memory to all those who died in the Second World War! Glory to everyone and everyone who fought against Nazism and won!
Glory to all our heroes of different times, to whom we equally owe our lives!
Office of the President of Ukraine
