Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
spoke to the Danish Parliament and people yesterday, August 21st
according to both the LA Times and Denmark’s The Local. He
made his way to Copenhagen for means of thanking the greater nation for the 42
F-16 jets recently donated to the war efforts on behalf of Denmark and the
Netherlands.
Copenhagen has been Zelensky’s third stop
in visiting four countries over three days to express gratitude for support and
request aid from those more hesitant for reasons of NATO alliances. The
president was met with open arms as demonstrated in the showcase of Ukrainian
flags that have covered the city in blue and yellow over the past few days.
Alternating with the Danish red and white,
Copenhagen Central Station, as seen above, was one prominent display of
allegiance. In the hours after his speech many Danes could be seen about town
carrying small Ukrainian flags or even donning it upon their shoulders. The
national notion of support was palpable.
While debatable if a flag constitutes art, both
the prominence and symbolic meaning of it certainly sends a message, especially
pertaining to global conflict only a few borders away. While grappling with its
own history of colonization and imperialism, Denmark is quick to stand against
such practices from others. Visual and symbolic presentations convey meaning.
How will Denmark present their stance on their own fraught past, and present,
with the same vigor? This question is but one we will be interrogating over the
course of the next month.
See links below for more information.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-08-21/zelensky-thanks-denmark-f16s-jets-fight-russia
https://www.thelocal.dk/20230822/what-did-ukrainian-president-zelensky-say-in-copenhagen-speeches
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