Duty of Ukrainians is to continue the fight, says UWC President Grod

Ukrainians must never give up and must continue to defend Ukraine every day, just as those who fought for freedom and independence did – and as those who are still doing so today, said Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress, at a rally in Oslo ahead of the Day of Dignity and Freedom on Nov. 21.

“We cannot afford to feel exhausted; such a word should not exist. We, Ukrainians living abroad, are in a peaceful world where Russian bombs do not destroy our cities every day. We have the opportunity to earn a living and care for our families without constant fear. Therefore, it is crucial that each of us does everything possible every day to protect Ukraine,” Grod said.

He emphasized that Ukrainian communities must remind the world daily that Ukraine’s fight is ongoing.

“We are a force. We must never forget our responsibility as Ukrainians living abroad. Whether in Oslo, Buenos Aires, Lisbon, New York, or Kyiv, we are all Ukrainians, and that should never be forgotten. We have a duty to Ukraine – to defend our homeland. This is our main mission,” he added.

The Day of Dignity and Freedom was established by Ukraine’s first war-time President Petro Poroshenko on Nov. 13, 2014, to commemorate two pivotal events in Ukraine’s modern history: the Orange Revolution of 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity in 2013.