President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed Decree No. 266/2023, which introduces the celebration of Europe Day on 9 May in Ukraine.
"Aware of the European identity of the Ukrainian people, in order to strengthen the unity of the peoples of Europe, ensure peace, security and stability on the European continent, demonstrate commitment to the ideals and values of democracy, support the initiatives of youth and other public associations, I decide to establish Europe Day in Ukraine, which will be celebrated annually on 9 May together with the states of the European Union," the decree reads.
The decree comes into force on the day of its publication.
Zelenskyy also submitted a bill to parliament designating 8 May as the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II.
"We are returning to our country an honest history without ideological impurities. On 8 May, most of the world's nations remember the greatness of the victory over Nazism. On this day, the world honours the memory of all those whose lives were taken by that war. On this day, the Act of Unconditional Surrender of the Wehrmacht came into force. Today, I have submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine that proposes to establish 8 May as the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War Two of 1939-1945," Zelenskyy said in a video address.
In addition, according to the document, Presidential Decree No. 339/2003 of 19 April 2003 "On Europe Day" has now been repealed. According to it, Ukraine celebrated Europe Day annually on the third Saturday of May.