A senior Ukrainian politician praised the town of Reading on Saturday after many locals joined him on a solidarity march.
Reading is a favourite venue for visiting Ukrainians because of the community here, the Ukrainian cultural centre with its cafe, lively bar, children’s activities and library.
Sporting Zelensky-style short-cropped hair, and a bomber jacket, Vasyl Bohdanovych Markevych had travelled to the UK for ten days to visit his family in London and joined the marchers in Reading accompanied by a conspicuous security detail.
Mr Markevych was appointed as the head of the Zolochiv District State Administration (in the Lviv region) by Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 4, 2021.
The politician, on his second visit to Reading, came armed with a huge bag of novels for the library in the Ukrainian Community Centre in Sidmouth Street.
In Reading, Mr Markevych stood beneath the lion of Forbury Gardens and spoke with gratitude to the people of Reading and about the endgame of his country’s war with Russia.
When we asked him what happen next in Ukraine, Mr Markevych replied with confidence: “Putin will lose!”
“The peace has to be fair. Aggression should not be rewarded and human rights and human values have to come first.
“I’m sure we will achieve that because we are not alone. We are aided by strong partners who have gone through similar conflicts, maintained their independence and their strength.”
Mr Markevych marched alongside Reading MP Matt Rodda, Wokingham MP Clive Jones and the mayor of Reading Dr Alice Mpofu-Coles.
He said: “Thankyou for your solidarity and for standing with us and for keeping the light even during the dark times.
“Glory to Britain and glory to Ukraine.”
“This war showed the whole world what Ukraine is like and earned us friends all across the world.
“The UK is one of our greatest friends.
“Winston Churchill said the following words during WW2: ‘Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.’
“These words also apply to Ukrainian servicemen and women. They fight not only for the freedom of Ukraine but also for the whole of Europe and the whole world.
“The words also apply to our teachers, our doctors, who keep working during the heat of battle, and every single Ukrainian who has survived this very cold winter without electricity and heating.
“We would like to thank the UK parliament and the British people for all the actions that you have taken to support Ukraine.
“This war has brought us a great deal of disappointment and sorrow but it has also united us and showed the world who we are.”
He was also very enthusiastic about local people learning the Ukrainian language.
He said: “Reading is extraordinary. It is already my second time here. I would like to thank Reading Borough Council and Wokingham Borough Council and the whole community for their wonderful support for Ukraine.
“I have the deepest gratitude for what Reading Borough Council is doing for the District of Zolochiv.”
He told us he wanted to see more partnerships in the future between Zolochiv and Reading and Wokingham in different fields.
He appealed for medical supplies particularly wheelchairs and over-sized wheelchairs which are in short supply in Ukraine.
He invited Berkshire people to learn the Ukrainian language and visit his country when the war is over.
