Fellow Ukrainian citizens!

I congratulate You on the Independence Day of Ukraine!

Throughout 25 years we have paved a long way to achieve real independence. Day by day we are building our native state, reviving the forgotten in years feeling of being the master in our native land, building the blocks for the future of our children.

But we must admit that the way of our nation-building was rather painful unlike we thought a quarter of a century ago. From first days of our statehood the Ukrainian public organism has been struck with severe diseases, such as: corruption, oligarchization, dependence on a neighbouring state. However, the two recent revolutions proved that Ukrainians are not going to put up with such state of affairs.

We are a modern European nation that shares European democratic values and stands ready to fight for them day by day. During the Revolution of Dignity we chose the path of painstaking work for the sake of our future. Therefore, we are carrying out reforms and introducing changes in all sectors of life of our state and society.

Today we again have to, like many previous generations of Ukrainians, defend our independence by force of arms. The lives of thousands of our brothers and sisters is the price Ukraine is paying to defend its sovereignty and its right to choose its own future.

Our independence is real, but not formal, we are a successful Ukrainian state. We must protect our land and carry out profound transformations in our state that will entail sustainable economic development and integration into European and Euro-Atlantic intellectual, economic and political environment.

There are a lot of challenges in store for us, but I believe that together we will overcome all obstacles and Ukraine will unlock the huge, fantastic potential we possess.

Glory to Ukraine!

Prime Minister of Ukraine                                                                   Volodymyr GROYSMAN