In their statements both Ms. Nuland and Mr. Nimchinsky condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the latter stating that the question hanging in the air is what the Ukrainians have done to Russia and the Russians to make them come to our land and start killing us, stressing that there must be a response, a strong response to Russia from all of us.
In her statement, Ms. Nuland said she was honored on behalf of U.S. President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to visit this memorial at a moment of vital importance for the nation of Ukraine and for the entire democratic world.
As Ukraine suffers under this terrible, violent, brutal aggression from Russia, it is fighting not only for its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, but for the freedom and rights of the entire democratic world, he said.
He added that we honor the sacrifice Ukrainians make every day. We stand with you in solidarity. Cyprus, the countries of the region, the whole transatlantic family stands with you in supporting you and honoring your sacrifice. This Anchor Heart is such a powerful symbol of the love between the cities along this waterway, which should be a waterway of peace, freedom and security."
The U.S. official noted that we have all worked together, the United States and Cyprus, the United States and Ukraine, the three nations together, to create an area of security, peace and freedom.
Ms. Nuland also noted that her first visit when she was a student studying languages and culture was to the city of Odessa, in the then Soviet Union, where she spent three weeks at a youth camp called Molodaya Gvardiya.
He added that he revisited the free city of Odessa again in 2014 after it suffered violence the last time Russian forces invaded Ukraine.
So this is a city that is close to my heart, like this city, where I also spent a lot of time as a diplomat, working with our Cypriot friends, she said.
She noted that therefore today is more than symbolic for her. The feelings are very strong as I stand with the two of you supporting peace, supporting the people of this great city, to show the world that we great democracies are with you, she concluded.
For his part, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said we have gathered today at this monument of friendship between the people of our island and the people of Ukraine, under the shadow of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
He noted that over the past 42 days we have witnessed Russian aggression against an independent, sovereign state, causing nothing but loss of life, hardship, destruction, pain and uncertainty.
We unequivocally and strongly condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We stand firm in our support and solidarity with the people of Ukraine. And we will continue to do so, with actions, he underlined.
He noted that together with our EU partners we have adopted and implemented unprecedented restrictive measures against the Russian Federation, which are already having an impact. And we join the international community in urging an immediate ceasefire and condemning the atrocities committed against civilians.
As we stand alongside this Ankara Heart, which symbolizes the strong bond of friendship and common values shared by the city of Larnaca and the twinned city of Odessa, we pay tribute to the people of Ukraine and express to them our solidarity and full support during these difficult times. The Ambassador of Ukraine, Ruslan Nimchinsky, said it was a great honour for him to be present at this ceremony.
He noted that the Ankara Heart sculpture was offered to our Cypriot friends by the city of Odessa as a symbol of friendship and cordiality.
He noted that the Ankara Heart sculpture was offered to our Cypriot friends by the city of Odessa as a symbol of friendship and cordiality. The same message of friendship and cordiality goes to the whole world from the heart of the Ukrainian nation, which is currently going through the toughest challenge in its history, he said.
Nimchinsky said that recently the world has seen horrifying images from the small Ukrainian town of Butchia. This is an absolutely different symbol a symbol of death, hatred, inhumanity. Mass executions, men and women with their hands tied behind their backs and shot in the back of their heads, women and girls raped, dead bodies in the streets. There are not enough words to express our feelings, he noted.
He added that in many European countries Russia is organizing fake demonstrations with slogans that can only serve one purpose - to propagandize for war and hatred against Ukrainians, to justify the massacre and terror they are committing on our territories.
There is a simple question that many Ukrainians are asking today. What have we Ukrainians done to Russia and the Russians to come to our land and start killing us. This question is hanging in the air, the Ukrainian Ambassador said.
He stressed that there must be an answer, a strong answer to Russia from all of us.
We are deeply grateful for all the support, solidarity and practical help to Ukraine. We will always remember this kind of friendship. We are sure that the day will come that will bring the justice that we demand, which all our friends and the whole democratic world are demanding today, he said.
During the ceremony Mrs. Nuland was given a ribbon with the colours of the Ukrainian flag, which she tied to the monument.
Also present at the ceremony were the Mayor of Nicosia, Constantinos Yiorkatzis, the Mayor of Larnaca, Andreas Vyras, and the US Ambassador to Cyprus, Judith Garber.
Source: CNA
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