On August 23, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko took part in the ceremony of raising the National Flag of Ukraine on Sofiyska square in Kyiv.

In his address to compatriots, the Head of State inter alia noted: “We are peaceful people, but we are ready to pay sweat and blood for the right to live under this flag, under this sky and among these fields. And we do it”.

According to the President, “yellow and blue flag became a symbol of peaceful life which the Ukrainian Armed Forces return to the Donbas liberating it from terrorists”. “The national flag proudly flies over Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, Artemivsk and Kostiantynivka. Residents of Donetsk and Luhansk tortured by militants are also striving for peace. The will certainly achieve it!” Petro Poroshenko assured.

The Head of State stressed that national symbols had become an organic part of people’s life. Yellow and blue colors became an object of national pride and a sign of fashion. The President calls it “touching” when thousands of volunteers paint fences and bridges all over the country in yellow and blue colors for the money gathered by citizens. “Bridges across Dnipro are not simple roads. They are the objectification of unity of two shores of our Ukraine,” the President emphasized.

The President stressed that Ukrainians were currently united and powerful as never before. “Strong, cruel and insidious enemy has hardened and cemented us as nobody,” he said. According to the President, in the course of the last year, the number of those who consider themselves patriots of Ukraine, who stand for joining the EU, for the unitary state, for Ukrainian as a single state language has increased radically.

Speaking of language, Petro Poroshenko notes that many of us speak Russian. “But they think different than in Russia. Nobody will be able to split the country on linguistic grounds now,” he said.

“Remaining principled that the only state language is Ukrainian, we must adequately evaluate the contribution of Russian-speaking Ukrainians to the protection of our common Motherland,” the Head of State emphasized.

The President expressed confidence that common will of the majority of Ukrainian residents was based on the desire to live in united, unitary, democratic and European state. “Division of Ukraine into East and West, North and South remains in the past. It means that we have finally and irrevocably formed as nation, as the people of Ukraine,” the President said.

The National Flag of Ukraine was solemnly raised when the military orchestra performed the National Anthem of Ukraine. Warriors of the Honor Guard solemnly marched in front of the President.

The Head of State and his family took part in the prayer for Ukraine, served in the ancient St. Sophia cathedral by primates of the Ukrainian churches.

On August 23, Ukraine celebrates the Day of the National Flag established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine of August 23, 2004.

 

Assessoria de Imprensa do Presidente da Ucrânia