Ukraine switches to marking Europe Day instead of Victory Day. Highlights from Zelenskyi\u2019s joint press conference with Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv. The military parade in Moscow was miserable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, Ukraine marks Europe Day on May 9 for the first time. Until now, Ukraine has celebrated the victory against Nazism (Victory Day over Nazism in World War II) on May 9. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a visit to Kyiv on Tuesday in a show of support for Ukraine as Russia held a Victory Day parade in Moscow, the most scaled-down in years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said he had decreed that Ukraine will celebrate Europe Day on May 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cToday, I signed the relevant decree, and every year from tomorrow, May 9, we will commemorate our historic unity \u2013 the unity of all Europeans who destroyed Nazism and will defeat ruscism,\u201d Zelenskyi said in his address on May 8 (formerly the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cToday, I submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine [the Ukrainian Parliament] proposing that May 8 be the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War of 1939-1945,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is time to make a positive decision to begin talks on Ukraine\u2019s accession to the EU, President Zelenskyi told a joint news conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv. \u201cIt\u2019s high time to remove artificial political opacity in relations between Ukraine and the European Union. It is time for a positive decision to open negotiations on Ukraine\u2019s membership in the European Union. Our values, security, our prosperity, peace on the continent \u2014 Europe can fully achieve that only with Ukraine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukraine hopes for a positive interim assessment of its progress by the European Commission in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Any restrictions of Ukrainian exports are currently unacceptable, because they strengthen the potential of the aggressor, Zelenskyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukraine calls on EU member states to refrain from making trade related decisions with no prior consultations with Ukraine. \u201cWe discussed [with the European Commission President] the situation with our agricultural exports. (\u2026) Unfortunately, we are facing problems where [Europe] should have further stood in firm solidarity [with Ukraine]. Our neighbors\u2019 tough, protectionist measures in times of war, do nothing but disappoint us,\u201d Zelenskyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He suggested to create an advisory group with participants representing Ukraine\u2019s neighboring states and EU countries, to monitor trade challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukraine expects of the EU \u201cstrong decisions\u201d that will quickly lift all trade restrictions, if only there is \u201cpolitical will\u201d. \u201cOur talks today show that the will is there,\u201d the President said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He underscored the need to impose sanctions on Russia\u2019s nuclear sector. \u201cWe count on adoption of the 11th<\/sup> package of sanctions in the near future. It needs to include sanctions on the nuclear sector of the terrorist state. It will make the package proportionate to the level of threat,\u201d Zelenskyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Ursula von der Leyen discussed the pace of supply of one million artillery rounds to Ukraine, an assistance measure adopted by EU members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The number of troops that took part in the parade in Moscow was the lowest in the past 15 years. Some 10,000 troops were supposed to participate, according to Russian news site Agentstvo, but just 8,000 were there \u2014 the lowest number since 2008. Among them, Russian military units fighting against Ukraine. Several units that paraded through Red Square last year did not show up, including the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division. Its troops were deployed to Kharkiv region last autumn as Ukraine recaptured the land. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This Victory Day parade also involved much less equipment than last time. There were 125 pieces of equipment, the BBC Russian service said. Of the main battle tanks only the T-34 was on show, a tank model assembled about 80 years ago. Last year, around 20 tanks were involved in the parade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The usual fly-past above the Red Square was canceled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Putin spoke from the Red Square, giving a weak speech full of propagandist narratives and clich\u00e9s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout his short address, Putin praised Russian troops fighting in what the Kremlin calls its \u201cspecial military operation\u201d in Ukraine, saying the country is \u201cproud\u201d of everyone who fights on the frontlines. He spoke of no decisions linked to Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Putin declared that [the West] has unleashed \u201ca real war\u201d against Russia. \u201cA real war has once again been unleashed on our motherland,\u201d he said in the speech during annual celebrations marking Russia\u2019s World War II victory. \u201cWestern elites talk about their exceptionalism, dividing people and provoking bloody conflicts, sowing hatred, Russophobia and aggressive nationalism, destroying traditional family values.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Putin used the Victory Day parade to launch yet another attack on the West, accusing it of holding Ukraine hostage to a coup and its anti-Russian plans. Distorting history facts, he said that the West \u201cseems to have forgotten what the insane claims of the Nazis for world domination led to\u201d, he went further. They have forgotten who \u201cliberated Europe,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMiserable parade in Moscow\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Youth involvement in the restoration of Ukraine. Ukraine in Flames #425<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n