104th Armistice celebrated in Ypres, De Croo dedicates message of peace to Ukraine

At 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, the Great War ended after four years of fighting. Armistice Day has since been the day to commemorate all war victims, civilians and soldiers, including the victims of wars that followed. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) made the link between the First World War and the war in Ukraine. “This year’s Armistice is different. For my generation, war has never been more tangible than it is today,” he said. “Not even two thousand kilometers from here, the Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom.

Today we are not only thinking about the end of the First World War and the courageous battle that soldiers from all over the world fought in our Flemish fields. Today we also think of all the Ukrainian men who are currently fighting for their freedom and their homeland, for the women who became victims of Russian brutality, the children and grandmothers who had to flee the blind violence. Today we dedicate the Ypres message of peace to them.”

Flemish minister Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) and mayor of Ypres Emily Talpe (open VLD) also attended the ceremony.