The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, made a statement on the pan-European Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes, in which she accused the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, of the fact that by conducting unjustified aggression against Ukraine, he returned to Europe the "horror of war", in which Ukrainians protect the values ​​of the European Union.

 The text of the statement was distributed by the European Commission on the eve of the pan-European Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, which is celebrated on August 23.

 "On August 23, we honor the memory of the victims of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes in Europe and beyond. Today, on the 83rd anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, this date has a special significance. This year, Putin returned to Europe the horrors of war along with a reminder that the world cannot be taken for granted," she said.

 The president of the European Commission is sure that "the painful memory of the past is not just a distant memory, it found its echo in Russia's illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine."

 "We are inspired by the courage of those who stood up to injustice then, and we express our respect and support to the many men and women who today are forced to do it again. The Ukrainian people give their lives to protect the values ​​on which our Union is built," said the statement

 At the same time, von der Leyen assured that "today, more than ever before, we are united against state-controlled Russian propaganda, which distorts history, spreads conspiracy theories and punishes those who oppose it. We will resolutely continue our work to counter disinformation. And we will make sure that those who resisted totalitarianism are not forgotten."