Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a meeting with President of the humanitarian organization "Yahad-In Unum" Father Patrick Desbois.
Andriy Yermak thanked Father Patrick Desbois for his activities in the field of Holocaust research and for visiting Ukraine during the pandemic to take part in events related to Babyn Yar. According to him, for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this project is extremely important as a reminder that such a tragedy should never happen again.
"For Ukraine, your participation in the activities to perpetuate the memory of the Holocaust you are researching and Babyn Yar as a symbol of the “Holocaust by Bullets” is very important. We invite you to join our work," Andriy Yermak said, addressing Father Patrick Desbois.
The Head of the President's Office also stressed that the issue of achieving peace in Donbas is extremely important for Ukraine, so the state leadership actively urges religious leaders to join this process.
Andriy Yermak spoke about the support of Ukraine by world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.
For his part, Father Patrick Desbois told how he first met Ukrainians in Rava-Rus'ka, where his father was deported from France in 1942.
According to him, it was in this Ukrainian city that his study of the events of the Holocaust began. In total, he managed to make several documentaries, get the testimony of about 8 thousand people.
Father Patrick Desbois noted the openness and hospitality of Ukrainians.