Today, on VE-Day, we commemorate the sacrifices and heroism of those who fought against Nazi Germany in World War II. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine reminds us of the millions of Ukrainians who fought alongside other nations for victory over Nazism.
Despite the horrors of the war and the creation of the United Nations with the promise of “Never Again,” totalitarianism took root in the Soviet Union, dominating Eastern Europe until the late 1980s. Meanwhile, Western Europe saw denazification, economic restoration, and the rise of democracy and collective security through organizations like NATO.
After the fall of the USSR in 1991, hopes for peace were shattered as Russia, under Vladimir Putin, reverted to imperialistic tendencies akin to Hitler’s fascism. Putin’s aggression towards Ukraine reflects genocidal intent, denying Ukrainian identity and rights through Russification and violence.
President Zelensky warns of Russian fascism and calls for unity against this modern-day threat. On this VE-Day, we honor the past resistance against Nazism and recognize the need for collective action to defeat the resurgence of fascism in our time.
Let us look to the past for inspiration and unite against the evils of our time to strive towards a second VE-Day!