Photo: Rick Kern/Getty
Bill ClintonandGeorge W. Bushput on a united front as they visited a Ukrainian church in Chicago this week.
The former presidents were in the Windy City for a joint speaking gig on Wednesday when they decided, spur of the moment, to stop in Chicago’s neighborhood known as Ukrainian Village, which is home to the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Ukrainian Cultural Center, and the city’s vibrant Ukrainian-American community.
In a joint statement to PEOPLE, spokesmen for the two former presidents said: “In the spirit of seeing every American come together, it just made all the sense in the world to them.”
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“America stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom and their future,” Bush said on Instagram, where he posted a video and photos of the visit.
Clinton also posted the videoto his Twitter page, writing, “America stands united with the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom and against oppression.”
Russia’sattack on Ukrainecontinues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades.
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With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyycalled for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while urging his country to fight back.
“Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,“he told the European Unionin a speech in the early days of the fighting, adding, “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness.”
source: people.com
