Zelensky introduces Europe Day on May 9 to mark European unity of past and today

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, signed a decree introducing the celebration of Europe Day in Ukraine on May 9. The President also submitted a bill to the Ukrainian parliament proposing to make May 8 the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War.

"We are returning an honest history without ideological admixtures to our state," Zelensky said during a video address. "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 honors the memory of all those 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." 

The President stressed that Ukraine would never forget the contribution of its people to the victory over Nazism and would not let anyone lie that the victory could have taken place without the participation of any country or people, likely referring to Russia, which credits the success in the World War II to itself.

"Just as we destroyed evil together then, so now we destroy a similar evil together. Unfortunately, evil has returned. Although the aggressor is different now, he has the same goal — enslavement or destruction," Zelensky said.

He added that unity in Europe brings us closer to celebrating the first day of our peace.

"It will be right to celebrate Europe Day with all of free Europe. Today I signed the corresponding decree. Every year from tomorrow, on May 9, we will commemorate our historic unity — the unity of all Europeans who destroyed Nazism and will defeat rushism. The unity that brings peace closer," the head of state noted.

In the past, Ukraine celebrated the victory over Nazism in World War II on May 9, a tradition in many countries formerly occupied by the Soviet Union. However, Russia continues celebrating Victory Day, while neighboring countries have begun to view this day as less important. Ukraine, which suffered significant losses during the war, conducted an opinion poll that indicated May 9 should be a day of remembrance rather than a celebration of victory. Kazakhstan has canceled its military parade for the third year in a row, while Latvia has declared May 9 as a day of remembrance for the victims of Russia's war in Ukraine.

May 9th is a highly revered holiday in Russia known as the Day of Victory. This day is marked by a military parade where Russia showcases its strength, using the slogan "We can repeat it." The Great Patriotic War, as Russians call World War II, is considered their country's most significant conflict, resulting in the loss of 27 million Soviet citizens. President Boris Yeltsin revived the Victory Day parade in 1995, which was previously only marked occasionally during the Soviet era. However, Vladimir Putin made it an annual event featuring military hardware in 2008. Victory Day has played a crucial role in shaping Russian identity, with schoolbooks and history books emphasizing Russia's role as Europe's wartime liberators.