The heroic Ukrainian defense has become a fact of history, and the Ukrainian victory must and will definitely become a fact of history, namely, veterans can become a community of changes in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"We have great hope precisely for the veteran community of Ukraine, for all those people who are in the army and in civilian life proved that they definitely care whether to be in Ukraine, who know exactly the price of independence of our state," Zelenskyy said at the VII Annual International Veterans Forum "Ukraine. Veterans. Unity."

He stressed that any nation "that has passed the path of transformation and gained its place among the real leaders of the world has relied on certain key communities of society along this path." The President noted that it is veterans who can become such a community in Ukraine now.

"Everyone who wants to become a conductor of change for Ukraine after the protection of Ukraine. And in particular at the public level, in public life, in each of our Ukrainian communities," he said.

According to the head of state, the public activity of veteran businesses and spaces will have to mean "not only the guaranteed presence of a real, independent, patriotic spirit in each of our communities, but also, in general, Ukrainian development and our confident growth."

"Economic, this is both social and cultural growth, which we as a nation really need," he added.