Ukraine celebrates Statehood Day

Today, July 28, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Ukrainian Statehood for the second time. 

President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed introducing a new state holiday, which will be celebrated on July 28, the day of the baptism of Kyivan Rus-Ukraine.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and the top leadership took part in events on the occasion of the Day of Ukrainian Statehood on Friday. The video of the celebrations is posted on the YouTube channel of the Office of the President.

"Today, we celebrate Statehood Day for the second time during a full-scale war," the president said. "And we all aspire that next year we celebrate this day in the same way in our free capital with our heroes, but with a victory. With a victory that will begin a well-deserved and just peace for our entire land, our people."

According to Zelensky, only victory over slavery gives true freedom, and the power of victory determines the strength and duration of peace.

"The more than a thousand-year history of our statehood tells us we must win. Not to stop, but to win, not to bargain, but to win," Zelensky stressed.

The Ukrainian people have doubts about Russia's willingness to abstain from future aggression even if Ukrainian defenders successfully expel the invaders, Zelensky said. However, he believes that Ukraine's triumph should be so decisive that any potential attempts by the enemy to reclaim the territory remain nothing more than deluded fantasies "held by madmen who entertain such plans."

The president stressed that statehood answers Ukraine's need for security and peace.

"Statehood is difficult to defend but harder to return if you lose it. Statehood is never just a given. It is always the result of serving and working for Ukraine every day. Someone can perceive statehood only as a way to earn or chase power or ambitions, but for others, internally different, strong, and pure, statehood becomes the highest sacrifice of life, which our heroes make for the sake of all of us, for the sake of the freedom of Ukraine," the head of state said.

All those present at the events on Mykhailivska Square observed a moment of silence for the Ukrainian heroes who fought against the invaders and gave their lives for the sake of Ukraine.

Chair of the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, members of the government, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the military leadership of the state, representatives of Ukrainian churches and denominations, and military personnel took part in events on the occasion of the Day of Ukrainian Statehood.