‘Outstanding’ — Zelenskyy and von der Leyen remember sacrifices of railway workers on Railway Day
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen greeted Ukrainian railway workers at the Kyiv Railway Station on Nov. 4 for Ukrainian Railway Day.
"Thanks to diplomatic trains, over 500 foreign delegations have visited Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.
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“This is a significant achievement. It was necessary. Thank you, Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways), for this, because it was important for people to know about the war in Ukraine and to see it (themselves). This is a significant contribution to global unity.”
"Our 'iron' people provide crucial elements to Ukrainian unity, without which the state would have faced a thousand times greater difficulty in withstanding this war and saving people's lives. Our railway is much more than just transportation. It guarantees that our people, the state, and the economy remain connected to the EU countries that help us. Our railway ensures that regions of Ukraine, cities, and villages in different parts of the country are united in one living space with essential goods and services.”
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Zelenskyy presented railway workers with state awards. He reminded the public that these workers helped evacuate 4 million people from conflict zones and transported over 120 million tons of cargo, including food. Railway workers also established vital new routes that Ukraine has needed for decades, including those to Poland, Romania, and Moldova.
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A moment of silence was held for the 530 Ukrzaliznytsia employees who have been killed by Russia during the war.
Von der Leyen also expressed her admiration for Ukrainian railway workers and their dedication.
"Since the beginning of the war, you have been working tirelessly in such challenging conditions,” she said.
“You help your fellow citizens find shelter in EU countries and return home. You transport grain and other essential products from Ukraine worldwide. You connect your country and your people. You support lifelines. I'm a witness to this because I'm taking the train to Kyiv for the sixth time. Thank you for your professionalism. It's outstanding.”
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