Volodymyr Zelensky hopes for peace in Ukraine next Easter
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski has expressed hope for peace in Ukraine next Easter, sending a message to his countrymen who on Sunday celebrated Orthodox Palm Sunday and Catholic Easter for the second time since the start of the Russian invasion, DPA reports, according to Digi24.
"I hope that next year's Palm Sunday will be celebrated in peace and freedom by all our people! May the sincerest prayers for peace of all those who celebrate Easter today be heard!" said Volodimir Zelensky in his message.
In Ukraine, more and more Christians celebrate Easter according to the Gregorian calendar and not the one used by the Russian Orthodox Church, Agerpres notes. Traditionally, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine celebrated religious holidays according to the calendar also used in Russia. Following the invasion launched by Russian forces on 24 February last year, public debate in Ukraine about distancing itself from Russia over the church calendar has intensified.
"Every bright Christian holiday teaches us that, though we may not know how, we must be sure that evil will lose. And we believe that. We must bring the defeat of evil closer," the Ukrainian head of state added.
On 24 February last year, Russia launched an unprovoked and unjustified aggression against neighbouring Ukraine. Moscow has consistently claimed that it is conducting a "special military operation to denazify" the neighbouring country and protect the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine.
Kiev has announced that Russian troops must leave the entire territory of Ukraine, including the regions annexed last year and the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, before discussing a possible peace plan with Moscow.
