President Petro Poroshenko met with Ukrainian pilot, Hero of Ukraine Nadiya Savchenko after her liberation from Russian prison and return to Ukraine.

“We have been worrying, praying, working actively and organizing protest rallies for long 709 days in order to make this day come true. The day when Nadiya Savchenko, hope and faith in our victory return to Ukraine. Just as we have brought Nadiya back, we will return Donbas and Crimea under the Ukrainian sovereignty,” Petro Poroshenko noted in the course of his press statement.

The Head of State emphasized that Nadiya Savchenko “has become a symbol of pride and unbroken spirit”. “This is what Ukraine is. This is what a Ukrainian woman is. This is what an officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is. We are proud of Nadiya’s behavior in captivity of the Russian aggressor,” Petro Poroshenko said.

“However, this is only the beginning, because we are waiting for the return of Yuri Soloshenko, Hennadiy Afanasyev, Oleg Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko and many other Ukrainians retained in Russia and the occupied territories,” the Head of State emphasized adding that he was glad that Nadiya Savchenko would join that struggle.

The President congratulated mother of the pilot Maria Ivanivna and sister Vira who “have been the first people waiting for Nadiya to come back”.

Petro Poroshenko noted that it had not been the first attempt to return Nadiya Savchenko to Ukraine: “The last date was May 22, earlier it was May 18. There have been many other dates, but they have been cancelled for certain reasons”.

“I can emphasize that it is our common victory,” the President noted and expressed gratitude “for an active participation and support” to the whole pro-Ukrainian coalition in the world, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, President of France Francois Hollande, President of the United States Barack Obama, leaders of the EU member-states who have been making a joint decision on the imposition of sanctions against Russia. The Head of State expressed gratefulness to Poland, Lithuania, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, leaders of Australia and Japan who have been clearly demanding the return of Nadiya Savchenko.

The President noted that the liberation of Nadiya Savchenko had become possible due to the Minsk agreements. “I would like to emphasize that these steps would have been impossible without the Minsk agreements that clearly stipulate the obligation of Russia to release all hostages. They are a part of the UN Security Council decision and the basis for sanctions against Russia,” the Head of State said.

In her turn, Nadiya Savchenko expressed gratitude to her mother and sister for patience, to the world community and everyone who fought for her liberation and to her brothers-in-arms. “I am grateful to all men who are alive and who died for our Ukraine. Excuse me that I am still alive. I am always willing to fight for our Ukraine until the victorious end. Ukraine has the right to be,” the Ukrainian pilot stressed.

Nadiya Savchenko emphasized that as Ukrainian patriot and people’s deputy, she would work for the liberation of all Ukrainian hostages and fulfillment of the Minsk agreements.

“I will work for every prisoner-of-war to return home alive. We will work for Ukraine to be strong, for our people to live decently on our land,” she said.

“It is great that we have the Minsk agreements. It is great that they will be fulfilled. We will do everything for them to be fulfilled,” Nadiya Savchenko added.

People’s deputy, Hero of Ukraine is confident that all changes take place due to citizens who defend their rights and opinion: “People is a great power. If people hadn’t spoken, politicians wouldn’t have done anything. Probably, this is the essence of democracy. People should speak and they must be heard. We will be heard, for we are Ukrainians”.