On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, called on the Ukrainian community to honor the memory of the victims, preserve the truth about Ukraine's contribution to the victory over Nazism, and prevent participation in pro-Russian events.
This was reported by Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
"We must not allow Russia to steal our memory, appropriate our collective victory, or manipulate history to justify aggression and crimes against our state and people," the statement said.
The appeal to Ukrainian communities abroad emphasizes that this date is particularly important for Ukraine - the Second World War claimed the lives of at least eight million Ukrainians, including 5 million civilians. A significant number of them were Holocaust victims - one and a half million Ukrainian Jews. Ukraine's contribution to the victory was enormous: more than six million Ukrainians fought in the Red Army, as well as in the ranks of the Allies and resistance movements.
It was also noted that Moscow is cynically using historical memory to legitimize the current aggression against Ukraine by claiming victory over Nazism.
"We call on all our communities, all Ukrainians abroad, not to participate in any events organized by modern aggressors," the statement said.
Ukrainians are urged to
- ignore any events organized by Russian or Belarusian diplomats abroad;
- not to participate in events with Soviet symbols, including St. George ribbons;
- not to give publicity to Russian propaganda events.
Instead, Ukrainians in the United States are urged to participate in Ukrainian commemorative events, to inform the world about Ukraine's true contribution to the victory over Nazism and its struggle for freedom today, and to follow the recommendations of Ukrainian diplomatic missions in their countries.
Ukraine also calls on its international partners not to support Russian initiatives aimed at distorting historical truth and to take appropriate measures.
These days, Ukrainians around the world should unite around truth, dignity, and honoring memory - without distortions and false narratives.
"Memory is not about parades. It is about people. It is about remembrance, not manipulation. It's about peace, not war," the statement reads.
Author: Inna Mikhno