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Day of Dignity and Freedom of Ukraine – Czech Foreign Minister congratulated Ukrainians and pledged support

Umito November 21, 2024

Russia will not succeed in taking back Ukraine

Author
Jan Lipavsky
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Today, Ukrainians celebrate the Day of Dignity and Freedom, a symbol of the beginning of the heroic resistance to the attempted kidnapping of Ukraine by the Russian evil empire in 2004 and 2013. Women and Ukrainian men prove once again that, unlike Russia, they are part of Europe and will always fight for their freedom and dignity.

ВАС ЗАИНТЕРЕСУЕТ

Czechia, or Czechoslovakia, was also stolen and subjected to Russian oppression at the end of World War II, along with other Central European countries. Milan Kundera’s essay “The Stolen West or the Tragedy of Central Europe,” first published 41 years ago, brilliantly describes the struggle to preserve identity in the face of the Russian totalitarian machine.

Ukrainian citizens have been defending their identity for years. For ten years, this struggle has been a war, and for almost three years, a total war, with a high cost in victims and losses. I understand the growing fatigue and frustration with the not always prompt and effective aid from the West, as well as the fear of another harsh winter and brutal Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Last weekend’s attack particularly struck me because on Sunday we celebrated the Day of Freedom and Democracy in the Czech Republic and looked forward to our return to Europe. Just like the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine in 2013, this return was the slogan and demand of the Velvet Revolution of 1989.

The crimes committed by Russia against Ukraine are also crimes against the whole of Europe and must be punished. Russia seeks to destroy Ukraine’s freedom, identity and future by targeting civilians and kidnapping children. More than 20,000 children have already been subjected to forced “re-education”.

Despite all these heinous crimes, Moscow will not succeed in depriving Ukrainians of their future. I am convinced that this future will be European – within the European Union. Even in times of war, Ukraine actively strives to harmonize its legislation with that of the EU. The start of formal EU membership negotiations in June this year represents a huge achievement by the government, state institutions, civil society and think tanks.

ВАС ЗАИНТЕРЕСУЕТ

Ukraine’s path to the EU will not be easy, nor will restoring territorial integrity within the 1991 borders. It will require a lot of patience, resources, negotiations and difficult decisions. Czechs understand and support Ukraine’s aspirations for freedom, dignity and a European future. We supported you from the first days of the invasion in February 2022 by providing you with weapons, including rocket launchers, tanks and attack helicopters. This year, thanks to the Czech Ammunition Initiative and other mechanisms, we will deliver hundreds of thousands of artillery shells and provide quality training to several thousand Ukrainian soldiers.

We will continue to help Ukraine integrate into NATO and the EU, and we will ensure that the European Union is more committed to protecting the security of all of Europe in the face of Russian aggression.

Glory to Ukraine and glory to all Ukrainian heroes who fight for Ukraine and Europe!