Today, May 8, Odesa honored the memory of Ukraine's heroes who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and independence of our nation.

Over a decade ago, Ukraine embraced the tradition of commemorating victory over Nazism in a European spirit – we do not celebrate, but remember the fallen of World War II from 1939 to 1945. The memory of war should not lead to a cult of victory but instead cultivate the ability to value peace and resolutely defend it by all reasonable means. Today, Ukraine is fighting against Russian aggression, which poses a threat not only to our state's independence but also to the international order and the security of humanity as a whole. The only way to restore peace is to defeat the aggressor.