22 January 2015, 08:00
on the Day of Unity of Ukraine
Dear compatriots!
Today, when we celebrate the Day of Unity of Ukraine, its best sons and daughters are fighting on the front line in the name of unity of our country. Representatives from different regions, who speak Ukrainian as well as Russian, shed their blood for unity of our Homeland's borders. Never in the modern history of Ukraine was this holiday so tragic but so heroic at the same time.
Independent united Ukraine is and will be! Rebels and dissidents dreamt of this unity in the crucible of liberation struggle and in prisons. In January of 1990 the first live chain, formed with Ukrainians in the honour of signing the Act of Unification of UPR and WUPR, united two banks of Dnipro.
Present Russian leadership dreams of new imperial plans. They want to prevent Ukraine from moving towards Europe and want to destroy us. Thus, they are providing military and financial assistance to terrorists in Donbas, but its citizens want peace more than anything.
If someone thought they could divide Ukrainians to "easterners" and "westerners", they were deeply mistaken. On the contrary, now we are united as never before. Mutual help, support of the Ukrainian army and of internally displaced persons, patriotism and faith in Ukraine - this is the true spirit of Unity. Today no one has any doubts that United Ukraine is European Ukraine!
Dear Ukrainians!
I sincerely congratulate you on this significant day! You, by your everyday deeds, and heroic feats on the battlefield prove that the idea of Unity of Ukraine is undying, and aspiration of it is indestructible.
I am sure that together we will defeat any enemy, overcome any obstacles, implement necessary reforms and build a legal European state with high living standards.
Glory to Ukraine!