As the denial of the Ukrainian nation remains a cornerstone of Russian propaganda in France, Ukraine today celebrates the 31st anniversary of its independence referendum! On December 1, 1991, Ukrainians went to the polls to decide by referendum on their country’s independence. Exactly 31 years ago, 92% of voters (and 84% of the electorate) chose independence!
This referendum followed the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, voting 321 to 2 on August 24, 1991, to declare the reestablishment of an independent Ukrainian state and call for a referendum.
The vote, recognized the next day by the international community and by Russia, resulted in a decisive majority for independence across all Ukrainian regions, including Donetsk (84%), Luhansk (84%), and Crimea (54%).
Since then, Russia has temporarily occupied several Ukrainian regions by force, violating its recognition of the 1991 referendum results and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.
Yesterday, the French National Assembly passed a historic resolution to support Ukraine and provide it with the means to repel Russian aggression, including in regions occupied since 2014. Now more than ever, Stand With Ukraine continues to fight to defend the choice Ukrainians made 31 years ago!
