Dear Ukrainians,
All friends of Ukraine who support us,
Tomorrow marks two years since this battle began. A battle for life.
The scale of the Russian invasion has shocked the world. The significance of this battle for the entire world is so profound that it has helped us unite dozens of nations from different continents with a common goal – the goal of overcoming Russian evil.
The cruelty brought by Russian occupiers to Ukrainian land has created a global emotion – an emotion of disgust towards such Russia. And the heroic resistance of Ukrainians has provided the most reliable connection between our people and the world – the shared conviction of many people that freedom should never lose to killers.
I am grateful to all who stood by Ukraine.
However, time tends to drain energy from any emotions and ties. Time softens memories and blurs resistance. Everything loses to time, except one thing. Humanity has found only one way to defeat time. And that is art.
Now it's impossible to remember most of the news, conversations, and political battles of the past when humanity went through other similar battles. The facts and characters of those times are securely hidden by time.
But not all. Art brings back to life everything experienced, and everything felt. And when news becomes routine when evil in war becomes so routine that the routine itself is shocking, not the crimes of war... And when people close their eyes sometimes, art prolongs the life of true emotions.
I am confident that the world will never forget Bucha and Mariupol. The stories of the tragedies of this war will be on millions of screens, and therefore in billions of hearts. I am confident that humanity will not lose respect for the heroism of our people. Movies will make this heroism legendary and teach that everyone must make a choice in life – an ethical choice, a choice in favor of life and justice – in favor of Ukraine. I am confident that we will preserve our unity with the world – despite any disinformation storms. Art will be on our side.
I want to take this moment to thank and support everyone who preserves this experience of Ukraine and Ukrainians. I am grateful for every screenplay and every film that speaks to the world about our tears and our courage, about the losses of Ukrainians, about all our people, and this battle for our own home.
Thank you for making Ukraine a part of the world's experience and emotions. Thank you for such cinema diplomacy! Thanks to everyone who is in Ukraine today, with Ukraine, and who supported this initiative – the artistic initiative.
Together, we are approaching the Ukrainian victory.
Glory to Ukraine!