May 8 and 9 must unite Ukraine

The President has underlined the need to consolidate society around the celebration of the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation and the Day of Victory in World War II. At the meeting with Heads of District State Administrations, the President urged to involve Ukrainian heroes - combatants, veterans of the Patriotic War of 2014-2015 years in the events of May 8 and 9.

“Great-grandfathers and great-grandchildren should stand next to each other, side by side demonstrating the unity of views and absolutely obvious parallels: against whom the Ukrainian people fought then and against whom we are fighting now,” Petro Poroshenko said.

According to the President, the people of Ukraine made an invaluable contribution to the victory over Nazism in 1939-1945 with their heroism in a struggle for the liberation of Europe. “Today, Ukraine and Ukrainians are an outpost of the European civilization in a struggle for freedom, democracy and European values,” the President emphasized.

The Head of State is glad that the symbol of May holidays will be the image of poppy. “I am glad that Ukraine will be in red and black colors. We will celebrate May 9 with respect for the veterans of the Second World War and the veterans of the Patriotic War of 2014-2015. These wars are the same, for they are about the defense of our Homeland from the aggressor,” Petro Poroshenko noted.

The President has underlined the importance of respectful treatment of veterans, victims of Nazi persecutions and present defenders of Ukraine. At the same time, he has drawn attention to the necessity of taking into account the specifics of historic memory for consolidation of local communities. “It is normal that we will celebrate our common holidays in different manners depending on location. Holidays must unite people. Thus, we will not allow provocateurs to demonstrate the split of the state, which doesn’t really exist,” the President stressed.

“We must do everything for the celebration of this holiday to become an important factor of increasing patriotic feelings in society, consolidation of nation over the idea of victory over the aggressor, preservation and strengthening of Ukrainian statehood,” the President said.

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