History Never Ends

Statement of Zygmunt Stępiński, Director POLIN Museum

At the crack of dawn today, without a prior declaration of war, Russian troops invaded their neighbor. Despite the fact that warfare dragged on in the region for many years and people perished, free, independent and democratic Ukraine continued to consistently build its sovereignty and power. Alas, dictators find it difficult to accept such a state of affairs.

Ukraine is a beautiful country. I had the pleasure and the privilege to live and work there for seven years. I met fantastic people, many have remained my dear friends. Today, since the wee hours, I have been worrying about their fate.

 We at POLIN Museum — whose mission is to foster understanding between people and nations — do believe that this part of the world in particular, having suffered dreadful atrocities in the twentieth century, could and should remain an oasis of freedom and peaceful coexistence of people of different nations, faiths and beliefs. We must not let the demons of the past resurface in Eastern Europe. While following the media reports with utmost concern, we call upon all people of good will to support the country that has been attacked, just as we declare our readiness to extend any help that may be needed. Our thoughts are with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, with the staff of the institutions with which we have cooperated in recent years, including the Taras Shevchenko National Museum, the Ukrainian Centre for Holocaust Research and other institutions that have offered us great help and alliance over the past years.

We stand in solidarity with the people in Ukraine, and also with the Ukrainians who reside in Poland — our neighbors in Warsaw, people who participate in our activities, experts with whom we work, friends from Our Choice Foundation and the Association of Ukrainians in Poland.

24 February is a day of gloom and despair for Europe and for the entire world. It will go down in history as a moment of infamy for the aggressor. Let us remember, however, that it is also a bleak day for all the Russians and Belarusians who are fighting for freedom and democracy while suffering brutal persecution and harassment.

We condemn aggression, not the nations.

Dear friends from Ukraine, POLIN Museum stands with you!

Zygmunt Stępiński and the POLIN Museum team