Address of Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation

The Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation. Today, the world community worships the memory of the victims of the Second World War. This war claimed the lives of millions of people and showed how fragile the independence of nations, peace and quiet in the world are.

On May 8, 1945, the Anti-Hitler coalition officially approved the Instrument of Surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany. It is impossible to overestimate Ukraine's contribution to this victory!

In 2014, Russia, having neglected international law, planned a victorious blitzkrieg, from the seizure of the Crimea, Donbas to the enslavement of the whole of Ukraine, just like Nazi Germany almost a century ago. But the Kremlin's plans for the restoration of the empire of horror were hindered by Ukrainian patriots - warriors, volunteers, the people. The enemy has been stopped, much of the occupied lands have been released.

The lessons of history should not be forgotten. May the memory of all the victims of the Second World War live forever!

This is the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation. Conclusions should be drawn from these events: to prevent terrible losses and sacrifices the aggressor country should not be pacified. History shows that an empire that seeks conquest cannot be persuaded to adhere to the standards of international behavior and respect the interests of other countries. It can only be stopped by force of arms and consistent uncompromising international stance of non-acceptance of aggression and inevitability of the punishment of the aggressor. Therefore, the task of Ukraine and the leading democracies in the world is to prevent the repetition of terrible mistakes of the past that could lead to a disaster on a planetary scale.

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