Kyiv Holds Flag Day Ceremony With Visiting European Leaders

President Volodymyr Zelensky, joined by top state officials and visiting European leaders, led the National Flag Day raising ceremony in Kyiv on Sunday, Aug. 23, Ukrinform reported. During his address, Zelensky noted the presence of the historic “Flag of Independence,” which was carried into the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) in the first moments after the declaration of independence on Aug. 24, 1991.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Today is an important day, the day of our important Ukrainian symbol, our true amulet,” Zelensky said. “It is the day of a very strong emotion – the warmth you feel when you are at home, or when, in any corner of the earth, you recognize your own.” The president stated that the Ukrainian flag and the country’s very existence remain the greatest irritant for Russia. He argued that both the 2014 and 2022 invasions were driven by Moscow’s desire to strip Ukraine of its symbols, freedom, and independence. “Massive, truly massive strikes, terror, murders – all of this is driven by the maniacal dream of one person: that Ukraine should not exist,” Zelensky said. “The Kremlin is obsessed with this, but ultimately it will lose precisely because of this.” The ceremony was attended by a broad delegation of Ukraine’s current leadership, including Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi, Presidential Office Head Kyrylo Budanov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Ihor Klymenko, and Foreign Intelligence Service Head Rustem Umerov. Other Topics of Interest Lithuanian President Nausėda Arrives in Kyiv Ahead of Independence Day Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda arrived in Kyiv on Sunday morning, Aug. 23, to attend Ukraine’s Flag Day and Independence Day events, and to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky also extended his gratitude to the international partners who joined the ceremony, specifically acknowledging Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The visiting foreign dignitaries also delivered remarks during the event. European leaders gather for independence events The presence of the international officials at the flag-raising ceremony follows their arrival in the Ukrainian capital earlier on Sunday morning to participate in a series of high-level diplomatic meetings and national holiday commemorations. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha greeted the delegations from the six Nordic and Baltic nations upon their arrival at the Kyiv railway station, stating that their presence demonstrates that Ukraine’s allies remain by its side. Over the course of the two-day visit spanning Flag Day and Independence Day, the visiting leaders are scheduled to hold bilateral and multilateral talks with President Zelensky. Additionally, the officials will take part in a summit of the NB8 (Nordic-Baltic Eight) format, which brings together the five Nordic and three Baltic states. The leaders are also slated to attend a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, a group coordinating international support for Ukraine, which will convene in Kyiv on Monday, Aug. 24. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.