President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in an iftar – the evening meal held during the holy month of Ramadan – together with Ukrainian warriors who practice Islam, leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, representatives of the Muslim community and clergy, and heads of foreign diplomatic missions.
The Head of State thanked all the defenders present, their brothers- and sisters-in-arms for defending Ukraine and Ukrainians, strengthening our country, and being part of the shared strength of an independent Ukraine.
The President awarded Ukrainian Muslim warriors the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, V class; the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III class; the Order “For Courage,” III class; and the Order of Danylo Halytskyi, as well as the medals “For Military Service to Ukraine” and “To the Defender of the Motherland.”
“Ukraine has endured in this war and is able to defend itself precisely because it is millions of people who did not break, did not betray Ukraine, and simply did not betray human dignity,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President emphasized that Ukraine defends the interests of the entire Ukrainian people – its citizens of all nationalities and all faiths, from all parts of our large country: from Kyiv to Crimea, from Zakarpattia to the Donetsk region – and will certainly not forget its people in occupation and captivity.
“We remember all our lands, every community in Ukraine – our East, Donbas, our Crimea. And we will give Russia nothing that is Ukrainian – this is our principled position. And it is not just someone’s position in Ukraine, not just the state’s or only the state’s, but truly the position of millions of people,” he said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that Ukraine’s defense and diplomacy will be able to bring the country closer to real peace and guaranteed security.
“For the thirteenth Ramadan in a row, the Muslim community of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatar people are marking it under difficult conditions – under Russian aggression and Russian strikes. We very much hope that next year Ramadan will be celebrated in peace. And this is what we wish for all peoples who are now in danger – in war,” the President noted.
The Head of State also stressed that it is no coincidence Moscow and the Iranian regime were so close – they are united by a lack of respect for people. That is why, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it is important to be effective in defending against such regimes so that life prevails.
Leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev added that the indigenous people of Crimea maintain close contacts with Crimean Tatars in the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula, especially activists and members of the Mejlis and regional mejlises.
“According to information we receive from various sources, more than 90 percent – and by other estimates about 95–96 percent – of the indigenous people of Crimea, despite fierce Russian propaganda and punitive measures by the occupiers, remain loyal to their country and continue to pray for the success of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Mustafa Dzhemilev said.
