Ukraine will forego any commemoration of the victory over Nazi Germany on May 9 in accordance with Soviet and Russian tradition, and will henceforth mark the day on May 8 with “the free world“, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday.
The commemorations of May 8, “it is the story of our people, of our allies, of the free world. Today we give it back to our people“, said Mr. Zelensky in a video address on the occasion of the celebration of the end of the Second World War, fifteen months after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the worst military conflict in Europe since 1945.
He said he was submitting a bill to Parliament on Monday declaring May 8 as “Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II“. Mr. Zelensky also indicated that he signed a decree on the establishment of a “europe day” le 9 mai.
