Fellow Ukrainians,
I sincerely congratulate you on the Constitution Day of Ukraine. This year we are proud to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the adoption of the independent Ukraine’s constitution in 1996.
But the great history of the constitutional tradition formation is much, much older.
This year we shall also celebrate the centenary of the Constitution of the Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR). On April 29, 1918, the Ukrainian Central Rada - the first parliament of the Ukrainian people of the modern age - adopted the Constitution of the UPR. For nearly a year, this unique historical document has been developed by a constitutional commission of 100 people - prominent scholars and members of the Central Rada, headed by Mykhailo Hrushevskyi.
The history of the Ukrainian constitutional process, the experience of creating the constitution under the national revival and the liberation struggles of 1917-1920, testify in the first place deep democratic traditions and identity of the Ukrainian people. The constitution as the fundamental law of Ukraine once and for all establishes eternal basic values ??of Ukrainians. It is freedom, justice, dignity, democracy, the rule of law and peace.
On this day, I am honoured to send special congratulations to the true defenders of the Constitution of Ukraine - the Ukrainian soldiers who have been shielding independence, state sovereignty, inviolability of our borders and our constitutional order from the Russian invader.
Thank you, dear warriors!
Thanks to you we are able today to celebrate our great national holiday in peace and safety.
Happy holiday!
Glory to Ukraine!