On the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, members of the Government, MPs, veterans, soldiers and representatives of the AUCCRO took part in the action “First minute of peace” at the memorial complex “National Museum of Ukrainian History in the Second World War”.
On the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, members of the Government, MPs, veterans, soldiers and representatives of the AUCCRO took part in the action “First minute of peace” at the memorial complex “National Museum of Ukrainian History in the Second World War”.
According to the official website of the Head of State, within the framework of the action, the Head of State announced the symbolic First Minute of Peace Initiative. Also, a memorial fire of memory was lit.
Prime Minister Volodymyr Groisman, members of the Government, MPs, veterans, soldiers and their families took part in the events.
"At 23:01 on May 8, 1945 - the moment when the fire ceased, and the first minute of the long-suffered peace came to Europe. This day is important not only because it gives humankind the opportunity to look around and recall enormous sacrifices and losses. Memories encourage us to think again about the causes of wars and make proper conclusions,” said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during the First Minute of Peace Initiative.
The head of state emphasized: “Millions and millions of people all over the world are united by one goal – to prevent the the tragedy from repeating. And only in Moscow, let God judge them, they say: “We can repeat”.
“I have repeatedly paralleled the attitude of Hitler and Putin to human life, to the norms of international law ... Nobody has the right to monopolize the victory over Nazism, and even more so use it for the apology of its imperial policy. The overcoming of Nazism seventy-four years ago is not a reason to hold the “regiments of immortals" marches around the world,” Petro Poroshenko reiterated.
“We have distanced ourselves from the Kremlin's victory. Over the past five years, we have developed our own scenario, our ritual for celebration of the Victory Day in the Second World War, close to the European tradition ...
We, the Ukrainians, strive to live in peace and security. Therefore, our goal is to become a full member of the EU and NATO, these two unions, which are the key to unity and security on our continent. They are also a guarantee of our national security and safety of every Ukrainian citizen,” said Petro Poroshenko.
He noted that in addition to the remembrance of the sacrifices of our people in the Second World War, thousands killed in the aftermath of Russian aggression were remembered.
“The reminder of the first minute of peace is of particular importance. For Ukraine – this is a minute of hope as well as a minute of memory. We seek peace and we believe that we will force the aggressor to leave our land. And then at this moment in Ukraine and throughout Europe real silence will come, without shelling, without losses,” Petro Poroshenko summarized.