Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Seventy years ago, Europe and the entire world faced a very important and, in many ways, decisive crossroads, when the people of Hungary rose up for freedom and against the Soviet system. The courage and love of freedom shown by Hungarians proved remarkably strong, and they still amaze all of us in Europe. Unfortunately, the world did not make the strong decisions needed to help them at that time. This led to further decades of totalitarian rule across much of Europe, which ended only with the revolutions of the 1980s. The year 1956 could have changed a great deal. This lesson now gives us grounds to say with absolute certainty: when people show courage and love of freedom, it is worth supporting. It deserves support everywhere in the world, so that freedom grows. I thank everyone who remembers history, honors people's courage and love of freedom, and does not shy away from decisions when decisions are needed. We honor the heroes of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956!