Zelensky speaks about the importance of culture during war at the Shevchenko Prize presentation – VIDEO
As War Ukraine-Russia News Hub reports with reference to the Office of the President, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky emphasized this in his speech at the ceremony for presenting the Taras Shevchenko National Award in 2024.
“In times of war – even more than in times of peace – we must all remember that culture matters. And people of culture matter. Everyone who talks about Ukraine. Voices what is in their hearts. Preserves everything we go through we pass through. It revives something that could have been forgotten, but – renewed – gives people strength, gives emotions,” the president said.
Zelensky noted that Ukrainians have come a long way to become a nation, creators of their culture, state and their own destiny.
“For the human community to become a nation and a state, the best characters in the country must have hearts for which it was not enough to live only for themselves. Such hearts speak to those who are nearby. They care. They teach – they teach to understand. They unite. They protect. When necessary, rescued. And in the end, we all recognize each other, hear each other, feel that we are Ukrainians, Ukrainians,” he emphasized.
According to Zelensky, this became possible thanks not only to the strength of our weapons, but also to the strength of the hearts of our people.
“Who in Mariupol, on the most terrible days, understand: what they see, they must film and save in order to later tell the whole world. Or a person who does not want human memory to lose what they saw somewhere on the road to Bakhmut or experience in Skadovsk, now temporarily occupied. And who feels: she must record this, rhyme this moment, rhyme this pain. Or a musician who believes that the people of Ukraine killed in this war will remain alive in the emotions of the living. And who with her music speaks about this. So that everyone alive in Ukraine remembers what this land is about, what its people are about, what the thoughts of the mother who is here in Ukraine waiting for her son or daughter are about,” the president emphasized.
Zelensky expressed gratitude to each and everyone who lives not only for themselves, but also cares about people and the entire Ukrainian state.
“I thank you, thank you to everyone who is now at the front and with those who are at the front. Those who are with Ukraine, take care of it and develop it,” he said.