Ukraine’s Embassy in Germany will not lay flowers next to Soviet symbols on May 8

It was stated on the department's website on May 7, 2023.

"The Embassy of Ukraine in Germany is launching a new format in Berlin to commemorate the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation on May 8 and all victims of the Second World War. The Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksiy Makeev and diplomats of the embassy deliberately refuse to lay wreaths and flowers at Soviet memorials or places with Soviet symbols in the German capital," Ukrainian diplomats emphasize, calling their position "error correction."

"We remember the cost of the Second World War well. Unfortunately, we are experiencing a new terrible war now - a war in the very center of Europe, a war with cynical propaganda, imperialism, chauvinism, and historical revanchism. That is why this year will be the first when Ukrainian diplomats in Germany will not lay flowers at Soviet monuments. Ukraine made a significant contribution to the victories over National Socialism and fascism, and this should be remembered. We will not lay flowers at places that promote Stalinist and Russian propaganda, such as "For the Motherland," "For Stalin," "The Great Fatherland," "1941-1945." Ukraine has clearly defined its place in Europe and in world history, and this was welcomed by our friends and partners. The time has come to correct historical mistakes. Ukraine reclaims its own: its history and memory of it," the embassy's statement reads.

Therefore, in the morning, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksiy Makeev will lay flowers at the central German memorial to the "victims of wars and tyranny" Neue Wache, together with the State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Tobias Lindner, and the Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner.

After that, the ambassador will visit the Reichstag building, where a joint approach will be organized with members of the German Bundestag of democratic factions to historical "graffiti," such as "Kyiv," "Kharkiv," "Lviv," "Simferopol," "Yalta," "Lutsk," made by Ukrainian soldiers, and soldiers of the Red Army in May 1945.

In the evening, the embassy team, together with the ambassador, will join the March in memory of Ukrainian victims of the Second World War organized by Ukrainian associations in Berlin, including "Viche Berlin," "Tyu Platform," and "Alliance of Ukrainian Organizations." The procession starts at 18:00 at the address: Schönhauser Allee 36, 10435 Berlin.

• It is worth mentioning that in Berlin, the court still allowed Russian flags on May 8-9.