Today, May 8th, events are held in Odessa to commemorate Memory Day, where we pay tribute to the heroes who fought for Ukraine's independence. Honoring the memory of those who laid down their lives for our country's freedom is a significant moment for all of us.

Over ten years ago, Ukraine embraced the tradition of commemorating the victory over Nazism in a European manner – we do not celebrate but honor those who perished in World War II from 1939 to 1945. The memory of war should shape our understanding of peace and the vital importance of defending it by all reasonable means. Today, Ukraine is confronting Russian aggression, which threatens not only our independence but also international security. The only path to restoring peace is to defeat the aggressor.