KYIV — Kyiv’s first counteroffensive towards Russia’s affect occurred a decade in the past, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on November 21 as Ukraine marked the tenth anniversary of the Day of Dignity and Freedom — the beginning of the Euromaidan protest motion that culminated with the ouster of Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovych.
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”Ten years in the past, we opened a brand new web page in our wrestle. Ten years in the past, Ukrainians performed their first counteroffensive — towards lawlessness, towards makes an attempt to deprive us of a European future, towards our being enslaved,” Zelenskiy stated in a video tackle to mark the tenth anniversary of the beginning of what’s recognized in Ukraine because the Revolution of Dignity.
Overseas dignitaries together with European Council President Charles Michel, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, and German Protection Minister Boris Pistorius have traveled to Kyiv to fulfill with Zelenskiy and different Ukrainian officers on the event — and in addition to debate continued assist for Kyiv from its allies within the face of Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion.
”Good to be again in Kyiv — amongst pals,”Michel stated on X, previously often known as Twitter, posting an image of himself shaking arms with the European Union’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, at Kyiv’s railway station.
Along with Zelenskiy and first girl Olena Zelenska, ”I honored all those that stood for freedom and those that made the last word sacrifice,” Sandu wrote on X.
1000’s of protesters gathered in Kyiv’s Independence Sq. — Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Ukrainian — on November 21, 2013, to voice their outrage at Russia-backed Yanukovych’s transfer to scrap plans to signal an Affiliation Settlement with the EU and his resolution to construct stronger relations with Russia.
The protest, which got here to be often known as the Euromaidan, expanded, regardless of a number of makes an attempt by safety forces to disperse it, and culminated with Yanukovych’s fleeing to Russia in February 2014.
100 and 7 folks had been killed by safety forces — most of them in February 2014 — and a pair of,500 others had been wounded. The protesters who had been killed got here to be recognized in Ukraine because the Heavenly Hundred.
WATCH: Ukraine marks the tenth anniversary of the Euromaidan protest motion that erupted after then-President Viktor Yanukovych refused to signal an EU Affiliation Settlement. Huge crowds of pro-European demonstrators occupied Kyiv’s central sq. for months to oppose Yanukovych’s plan for nearer financial ties with Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to Yanukovych’s downfall by ordering the occupation of Crimea and fomenting anti-Kyiv sentiment throughout jap and southern Ukraine, and conflict between authorities forces and Russia-backed fighters broke out in a lot of the Donbas in April 2014.
“I’m right here once more, firstly to pledge additional assist,” Pistorius stated as he began his second Kyiv go to, including that he additionally desires to “categorical our solidarity, our deep solidarity and admiration for the brave, courageous, and dear struggle that’s being waged right here.”
Low-intensity conflict continued in jap Ukraine for eight years regardless of cease-fires and inconclusive mediation makes an attempt by the West, till February final yr, when the Kremlin unleashed an all-out unprovoked invasion of Ukraine that’s about to enter its twenty second month.
Ukraine earlier this yr began a counteroffensive to liberate territories occupied by Russia, however progress has been inconclusive to this point.
The Kremlin on November 21 described the 2014 Ukrainian revolution that resulted within the ouster of Yanukovych as a Western-sponsored coup.
In his tackle, Zelenskiy praised Ukraine’s progress towards gaining membership within the European Union.
”12 months after yr, step-by-step, we do our greatest to make sure that our star shines within the circle of stars on the EU flag, which symbolizes the unity of the peoples of Europe. The star of Ukraine,” he stated.
With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and dpa