Europe Day in Kyiv and Ukraine: how the events on 9 May are taking place

Today, 9 May, is Europe Day. On the occasion of the holiday, children, one of the symbols of the capital, were dressed in appropriate outfits on Poshtova Square. This was announced by Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko on his Telegram channel.

He reminded that Ukraine has been fighting for the right to its European path for more than 10 years at a high price. The politician expressed confidence that there is no other way but to be in the European Union.

‘We have no other choice,’ the mayor commented on the photos.

Europe Day in Ukraine

EU foreign ministers, including the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, also arrived in the country to mark the holiday. They paid tribute to the fallen Ukrainian soldiers at the Lychakiv Cemetery. A ministerial meeting is scheduled for today, at which an announcement is expected on the creation of a special tribunal for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and Russian officials.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi wrote on Facebook that today Lviv has actually turned into a European diplomatic capital. Thirty-five delegations from the European Union and other countries arrived in the city.

An international Ukraine-EU meeting was organised at the City Hall with the participation of foreign ministers from all European countries. They discussed new sanctions against Russia, defence support and Ukraine’s integration into the European Union.

The EU flag was solemnly raised on Rynok Square. This was done by children of war – Yana Stepanenko, who lost her legs in a Russian missile attack, and Markiyan Mazur, a winner of international Olympiads.

The military performed the anthems of Ukraine and the European Union.

‘It was stronger than any words,’ Sadovyi said.

The event underlines the strategic importance of Lviv as a platform for key international decisions and symbolic gestures of support for Ukraine.

Europe Day as a symbol of unity and peace

This Friday, 9 May, Europeans celebrate Europe Day, as they do every year. The date commemorates Robert Schuman’s founding declaration, announced on 9 May 1950. The document launched European integration. In 2025, this event takes on special significance as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of this historic text.

In his declaration, Robert Schuman, then French Foreign Minister, laid the foundations for what later became the European Union by launching a project to unite coal and steel production among European countries. The idea took the form of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which already contained the beginnings of the idea of the Customs Union, which was created in 1968.

‘Europe will not be built overnight or as part of a general construction: it will be built through concrete achievements that first create de facto solidarity. […] The movement of coal and steel between the accession countries will be immediately exempt from all customs duties and will not be subject to differential transport tariffs,’ Schuman said on 9 May 1950.

This vision of a pragmatic Europe, built step by step, still resonates today in the daily work of European customs administrations.

As a reminder, Russia held a ‘victory’ parade on 9 May to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.