In Kyiv, to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Italian Republic, the Independence Monument was illuminated in the colors of the Italian tricolor for the first time in history in honor of a foreign state.
This was reported by the Italian Embassy in Ukraine.
“Like our country eighty years ago, the brave and resilient people of Ukraine are going through a moment when freedom ceases to be an abstract concept and becomes a daily, concrete, and costly choice. A choice that is reaffirmed every day under Russian missiles and drones, with a sense of dignity and pride that is deeply moving,” said Italy’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Carlo Formosa.
According to him, Ukraine is defending not only itself but also principles “that concern all of us: that brute force cannot be an argument, that sovereignty cannot be negotiated, and that a people has the right to choose its own future.”
“It is precisely because of our deep commitment to these values that Italy has stood by Ukraine unwaveringly since the first day of the Russian invasion. We will continue working together for a just and lasting peace,” the ambassador added.
The celebrations were attended by representatives of the Office of the President, ministers, central and local government officials, members of the business community, cultural and scientific institutions, the media, and civil society.
To mark the anniversary, the exhibition “Renato Balestra: Codes of Haute Couture” opened in Kyiv, featuring eleven evening gowns from the legendary Roman fashion house Maison Balestra, founded in Rome in 1959.
