Association chairman joins Independence Day celebrations in Kyiv

The chairman of the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia Volodymyr Palamar took part in the state celebrations of the 34th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine's independence held in Kyiv in recent days.

In particular, he was invited to the event held on 24 August on Sofiiska Square with the participation of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska, and to the National Prayer Breakfast under the patronage of the President of Ukraine on 25 August.

On 24 August, the country's top leadership and foreign guests who came to Ukraine to congratulate the Ukrainian people on Independence Day gathered on Sofiiska Square: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, US Special Envoy for Ukraine General Keith Kellogg, the defence ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Canada, the UK Minister for Veterans, the Czech Deputy Minister of Defence, the Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defence and religious leaders.

During the event, Volodymyr Palamar had the opportunity to talk with members of the clergy and the Ukrainian World Congress, including its President Paul Grod.

This year the National Prayer Breakfast was attended by more than a thousand participants from over 50 countries. This annual interfaith event brings together representatives of religious organisations as well as officials, military personnel, families of fallen heroes and young people to talk about peace in Ukraine. It is traditionally held under the patronage of the President of Ukraine.

The tradition of prayer breakfasts comes from the United States, where they were started in 1953 by President Dwight Eisenhower. Since 2008 such breakfasts have also been held in Ukraine, but this time it took place for the first time on the day after Independence Day – concluding a global 24-hour prayer initiative for peace in Ukraine.

The breakfast began with a joint prayer joined by clergy and international guests. The guests were addressed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, military personnel, public figures and officials. Their words were a reminder of the importance of spiritual resilience and unity at the hardest moments of the struggle.

During the event Volodymyr Palamar met many friends and acquaintances from different parts of the world, including from Estonia: Estonian Orthodox Church priest Aivar Sarapik and Chairman of the Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson!