To the participants, organisers and guests of the 29th Lviv BookForum
Dear friends!
I sincerely welcome BookForum in hospitable Lviv - an important book publishing event that holds its intellectual front in this difficult time.
For more than half a year, the world has witnessed how Russian aggression has been destroying our territories, Ukrainian culture, language, and books as a symbol of freedom and indomitability of our people. Today, when the Armed Forces of Ukraine are courageously defending their native country from the enemy invasion, it is vitally important for us to preserve our national culture and identity. That is why, on all platforms, we bring the truth to the world about what is happening now in Ukraine, about the Russians' arbitrary actions and crimes against humanity.
I would like to thank our international friends and partners for standing with us in this war. Now you have become ambassadors of Ukraine in the struggle for freedom and democratic values of the whole of Europe. I am sure that together we will win.
I am grateful to the organizers of the forum for their many years of dedication and active citizenship, for their significant contribution to the domestic book publishing sphere and the expansion of cultural diplomacy. I appreciate your efforts to develop Ukrainian European culture, its competitiveness as our contribution to building a common European home.
I wish BookForum participants meaningful communication and implementation of ambitious plans. All the best, victory and peace to everybody.
Glory to Ukraine!
Volodymyr ZELENSKYY
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