EU Ministers to meet in Kyiv in early May - French diplomat reveals details
Photo: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (Getty Images)
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that EU foreign ministers will soon meet in Kyiv. They will gather in the Ukrainian capital on Europe Day, May 9.
"EU foreign ministers will meet on May 9 in Kyiv. Of course, I will be there," he said on the TV channel.
He reminded that on this day Russia will celebrate the so-called Victory Day.
"On this day, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is planning a big celebration in Moscow - it's a victory day for them. For us, it will be a moment of solidarity with Ukraine," he said.
Europe day
Europe Day is a holiday celebrated on May 9 in Ukraine, the European Union and other countries to mark peace and unity on the European continent.
Previously, Europe Day was celebrated on May 10 at the European level, but now this date remains only an annual remembrance of the founding of the Council of Europe. The first Europe Day celebration was held by the Council of Europe in 1964.
Later, the European Union began celebrating its own Europe Day to commemorate the Schuman Declaration of 1950, which first proposed a European Coal and Steel Community, leading to the day being referred to as either "Schuman Day" or "United Europe Day." Both days are celebrated by flying the European flag.
May 8 holiday in Ukraine
Until 2023, Ukraine traditionally celebrated the Day of Victory over Nazism on May 9, as was customary in Soviet times.
However, the Verkhovna Rada adopted amendments to labor legislation and moved the official commemoration to May 8, the day in 1945 when the act of surrender of Nazi Germany came into force. Most countries celebrate the victory on that date.
And on May 9, Ukraine, like the EU, celebrates Europe Day, which was previously observed on the third Saturday in May.
