On Friday, July 28, 2023, Ukraine marked its day of statehood, a celebration to commemorate its independence.
The holiday came to being about two years ago when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree for its creation on August 24, 2021.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy observed Friday’s commemoration of Ukraine’s Statehood Day by reaffirming the country’s sovereignty; a rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who used his claim that Ukraine did not exist as a nation to justify his invasion.
In his speech during ceremonial events on the occasion of the Day of Ukrainian Statehood, Zelenskyy underscored that Ukraine’s victory today will determine the national path for generations to come and will prove the values that were established a thousand years ago.
“Now, like more than a thousand years ago, our civilizational choice is unity with the world. To be a power in world history. To have the right to its national history – of its people, its land, its state. And of our children – all future generations of the Ukrainian people. We will definitely win!”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainians do not believe that Russia will not want to repeat its aggression, Zelenskyy pronounced.
“We do not believe that Russia will not want to return with aggression even after we expel the invaders from all over our land.
“But, Ukraine’s victory can and must be so that any attempts by the enemy to return do not go beyond the sick fantasy of those madmen who harbor such plans.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Also, the Ukrainian President averred that his country’s defense in this war, for its freedom and independence, had set national priorities, and defense is now the top priority. Everything else is based on how important it is for Ukraine’s defense and protection.
“Our desire to win has determined what Ukraine will be like in the future. Strong. Free. European. A state without internal discord. A state that values its internal unity,” Zelenskyy declared.
Zelenskyy opined that Ukrainian statehood is majestic, full of emotions and history. He iterated that the line of Ukraine’s statehood stretches from Princes Askold and Volodymyr the Great to Ukrainian warriors in combat brigades and units in eastern and southern Ukraine, who are now fighting for the state.
“And the line of our statehood will continue with the lives, strength and dreams of the children and grandchildren of all those millions who are fighting and working for freedom, and then their children and grandchildren and all new generations of Ukrainians who will be worthy of our heroes who are protecting and will protect Ukraine now.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
As part of the commemoration, Zelenskyy honored servicemen and handed out first passports to young citizens.
Price Of Statehood Felt Most On The Front Lines
In a telegram post, The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi congratulated Ukrainians on the Day of Ukrainian Statehood.
“Ukrainian state-building has a history of more than a thousand years, and now we honor all its stages: from Rus to the present,” Zaluzhnyi noted.
He asserted that today, “we live in realities when statehood is hardened in battles.” “Its price is most felt on the front lines. In defense and in attack,” he added.
Zaluzhnyi emphasized that the price of Ukrainian Statehood is every meter of the land won by the incredible efforts, sweat and blood of the defenders of Ukraine. He also expressed gratitude to Ukrainian soldiers.
“Thank to our soldiers – brave men and women who defend Ukrainian statehood every day, every hour in battles against the Russian aggressor. We are a strong nation, we will protect our statehood!”
Valerii Zaluzhnyi
The holiday coincides with the observance that marks the beginning of the widespread adoption of Christianity in land that later became Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
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