World leaders dedicated New Year’s addresses to Ukraine

Leaders and representatives from all over the world dedicated their addresses made on the occasion of the New Year to Ukrainians and Ukraine.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark congratulated Ukrainians on the New Year and noted that the heroic struggle of Ukraine for its freedom makes a “strong impression on everyone.”

“My first New Year’s greeting is addressed to the Ukrainians of Denmark and the entire Ukrainian people. May this terrible war end and your proud and beautiful country flourish again,” she said. The Queen noted that Denmark sheltered many Ukrainian refugees, most of whom are women and children. She said that helping each other shines a light in the darkness, and that “it’s the least we can do.”

Polish President Andrzej Duda devoted a large part of his New Year’s greeting to Ukraine and the Russian war against it. He emphasized that the imperial policy of Putin’s Russia is to blame for everything that is happening in the world.

Duda added that the brutal Russian aggression against independent and democratic Ukraine brought death, pain and suffering. “We in Poland, like no one else in the world, see with our own eyes every day the enormity of human tragedies. We meet mothers and children who seek refuge with us, escaping the horrors of war,” he said.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak noted that the problems faced by the world in 2022 will not disappear next year.

“But 2023 will give us an opportunity to showcase the best of Britain on the world stage, continuing to stand with our Ukrainian friends against Putin’s brutality and defending freedom and democracy wherever we believe they are under threat,” he added.

President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola assured Ukrainians of continued support in her New Year’s greetings.

She called 2022 a difficult year for Europe. “In 2023, we must double the protection of our values. More importantly, we will continue to stand by Ukraine for peace with freedom. Peace with dignity. And peace with security,” she said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Urmas Reinsalu, recorded a video greeting for Ukrainians before the New Year, in which he expressed admiration for Ukraine’s resistance to Russian aggression, vocalising his wish for a Ukrainian victory and promising support. In the clip published on Twitter, Reinsalu, on behalf of Estonia and the entire Estonian people, wished Ukraine “complete victory over the aggressor country.”

“I want to emphasize: we, the Estonian people, will be firmly on your side. Your struggle is our struggle. There is no braver people in the world right now, and we pray for all Ukrainian soldiers at the front and for the safety of the families of all Ukrainians. Russia must lose in this war, and Ukraine must win. And even in the darkest time there is hope… Ukraine will win, and evil will be defeated,” he said.