Ukraine holds flag-raising ceremony in Kyiv

Kyiv hosted a solemn flag-raising ceremony, marked by the presence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other high-ranking officials, including parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk and various ministers. The event underscored Ukraine's enduring spirit and its historical struggle for sovereignty.

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All this time, our flag and the very existence of Ukraine have greatly annoyed Russia and V. Putin. They are more concerned about this than about their own country's internal affairs and the problems of millions of Russians. That is why in 2014 and in February 2022, Russia attacked us to take away our flag – to take away our symbols, our freedom, and independence. They came to take away everything from us. Russia has not abandoned these ambitions.

President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to international allies, including leaders from Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Finland, who attended the ceremony. He highlighted the historical "Flag of Independence," brought into the Verkhovna Rada in the immediate aftermath of Ukraine's declaration of independence on August 24, 1991.

Zelenskyy recounted how, 35 years prior, Ukrainians had to secretly sew their own flags. He stated that Russia and Vladimir Putin have long been agitated by Ukraine's flag and very existence, far more so than by their own domestic issues. This obsession, he argued, is the root cause of Russia's invasions in 2014 and February 2022, an attempt to seize Ukraine's symbols, freedom, and independence.

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Huge, truly massive strikes, terror, and killings are driven by the maniacal dreams of one person that Ukraine should not exist. The Kremlin is obsessed with this, but ultimately, it is precisely because of this that it will lose.

"They came to take everything from us. Russia has not abandoned these ambitions," Zelenskyy declared. He attributed the massive attacks, terror, and killings to the "maniacal dreams of one person that Ukraine should not exist." While the Kremlin is consumed by this goal, Zelenskyy asserted, it is precisely this obsession that will ultimately lead to Russia's defeat. He concluded by emphasizing that blue and yellow are the colors of Ukraine, its people, and their courage, symbolizing strength, resilience, freedom, and the triumph of life.

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Blue and yellow are the colors of Ukraine, its people, and their courage, and the Ukrainian flag is a symbol of strength, resilience, freedom, and the victory of life.