Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Ukrainians on Europe Day, saying that the country celebrates it not formally, but with the understanding that it is “an inseparable part of the European family.”
“We are defending Ukraine, our independence, and our future, and by doing so, we in Ukraine are defending our Europe, of which Ukraine has always been and will remain a part,” he stated.
“From the first days of the full-scale war until today, Europe has stood with Ukraine. And this is not charity, but a conscious choice by Europeans — to stand on the same side as the brave and strong, with Ukrainians who today are fighting for peace and real security from tyranny not only for themselves, but for the entire continent. And we will undoubtedly defend our state, our people, and our right to choose our own future independently — a future in Europe,” the Ukrainian leader added.