Glory to Ukraine!

Dear Ukrainians, ladies and gentlemen!

You and I have just heard our national anthem, created over 150 years ago. It inspires - inspires millions today.

We are standing now in the center of our free Ukrainian Kyiv. Nearby is the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery. This handsome man was founded nine centuries ago.

All this is happening on a very important day. The day of the baptism of Kyivan Rus – Ukraine – a historical event for Christianity and all of Europe, which happened here, in this city of ours, on these slopes of ours, more than a thousand years ago, during the time of our Volodymyr the Great. And it is precisely its symbol – the trident – ​​that is our state emblem. And it is precisely it that is on the chevrons of our soldiers who are here now and who are defending Ukraine today. Thank you to our soldiers!

All this and hundreds of other examples of such heredity are more than beautiful parallels. And certainly not a coincidence, but a natural connection between all generations of Ukrainians. The energy that has existed for centuries between the inseparable history of our spirit, our state and Europe, between all Ukrainians who were on this land of ours, who are on this land now and who will be on this land. That is what this important day is about today - the Day of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine, the day of our statehood.

Distinguished guests, dear citizens, all our soldiers, our doctors, rescuers, clergy, our government officials, our parliamentarians!

Mr. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada!

Madam President of the European Commission, dear Ursulo! Thank you for all of you being with us today! Thank you very much!

All the distinguished guests of our state who share Statehood Day here with us, in Kyiv, together with our people, with Ukraine!

Dear President of Romania, dear Nikușor!

Dear President of Moldova, dear Mae!

Dear President of Albania, dear Bayram!

Dear Prime Minister of Croatia, dear Andrej!

Dear Prime Minister of Slovenia, dear Janez!

Esteemed friends of Ukraine from Spain, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, France!

To the Pope's special representative, Cardinal Zuppi!

Thank you for being here today, you are all with Ukraine! Thank you! And the distance between our countries does not affect the closeness of our states, the closeness of our peoples. Your presence is proof that both politically and spiritually, and simply this is very important, on a human level we are all fighting for one thing: for a Europe without war, which is impossible without a strong and peaceful Ukraine. I thank you for being with us on this day.

July 15th. Ukraine celebrates Statehood Day. We are proud that we are the heirs of Kyivan Rus, the Cossack state, we have a thousand-year experience of state formation. A thousand-year experience of courage, a desire to live in freedom, independently, to live independently, to go only our own way, to be who we are - to be Ukraine, to be Ukrainians. And we are proud that everyone sees the whole time of a full-scale war: this is the thousand-year character of Ukraine.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Ukraine respects its history, remembers every joy, every pain that our people had to go through. But we do not live, constantly looking back. We are not focused only on the history that was. We are working on the history of Ukraine, which is, which will be. On a state that will be able. On independence that will be guaranteed.

We are creating exactly the state that has enough strength and self-respect to equally and at the same time preserve its heritage and implement ambitious plans. Ukraine that values ​​the past and believes in its own future. A state that is not afraid of the word "first" - for the first time does what until recently could only be a dream. We are creating this reality of unwavering respect for us, for Ukraine, for our people.

A few hours ago we returned from France, where for the first time Ukrainian soldiers participated in a festive military parade on the Champs-Elysees. For the first time, our combat pilots flew over Paris in "Mirages". For the first time. I want to thank French President Emmanuel for this invitation, for this honor and this respectful attitude, which, I am sure, Ukraine has absolutely rightfully earned with its courage, struggle and readiness to take leadership in processes that are decisive for the future of Europe.

Ukraine and Europe will create an anti-ballistic shield together for the first time. A historic project where Ukraine is not an observer, but one of the leaders, uniting countries and the strongest defense enterprises in Europe. The FREYJA project has been launched. We will do everything to build an anti-ballistic system for Europe, uniting all European anti-ballistic capabilities, so that the skies of our peoples are protected, so that dictators do not impose how to live on free people in Europe, so that the lives of people in Ukraine and every European state do not depend on whether Putin and his ilk have ballistics or not.

For the same purpose, Ukraine is also fighting for protection overseas. Ukraine is for the first time approaching the possibility of producing missiles for the Patriots and may become the third country in history to have this agreement and this privilege.

I want to thank the President of America for the political decision, which is already historic and will help save the lives of thousands of people in Ukraine. And it is very important that on this path everything works out for our sides, our teams, and that the Patriot missiles with the Made in Ukraine marking become a reality as soon as possible.

And this is precisely the reality that will bring closer the security and victory of life – the victory of life in Ukraine, when our people, our cities, squares, and all this beauty that you see around you now will definitely see peaceful days and nights.

For this reason, Ukraine is also building its own power. And Ukraine is building its ballistics and deep strikes for the first time. And these are not just developments, but a real force that is already working, that overcomes distances that were previously unattainable: 2,884 kilometers. This is the distance from here to the Omsk Refinery. This is simply a historical distance, historical accuracy. Thank you to everyone who did this! And unlike Russia, which is at war with residential buildings, schools, and churches, Ukraine is striking at Putin's "sponsors" in this war and the tools that help him kill people.

There are no longer any coordinates that would be unattainable for Ukrainian justice in the territory of evil. Half a thousand of our drones per day, dozens of their refineries, tankers of the shadow fleet, and Russia's military infrastructure have all felt it. There is no point in encroaching on Ukrainian statehood.

We see these results every day, we see such accuracy every day. Someone says that with modern technologies we are returning Russia to the Middle Ages. Someone remembers Napoleon, during whose time Moscow burned. But for us - I want everyone to know - for Ukraine, comparisons are not valuable and pathos is not valuable. The result is very valuable. Our main goal is not Russia without gasoline, but Ukraine without Russia, Ukraine without war, Ukraine with Europe and Ukraine and Europe without the Moscow threat.

I want to thank every leader who does everything possible for common security, does everything that is necessary for Ukraine. SAMP-T, "Iris", "Nasamsy", "Patriots", "Hawks" - a lot of everything. Thank you to the partners. All the power that is now helping Ukraine is priceless, of course. All these are not noble gestures today: the world sees who is really fair in this war and who really wants peace. This is Ukraine. A state that not only waited for help, which is so important, but united the world for the sake of life and learned to rely primarily on its own strength, on itself, on its people, who every day add new and new reasons for pride, of course, who made the word "for the first time" our brotherhood.

I remember when I first publicly announced the state's plan: a million drones per year. And there was a lot of skepticism. Everywhere - honestly, - both outside and inside. And now we can state: we are making 10 million drones per year. Ten. And there will be - twenty. We will do this together with our partners, once again proving the success of the defense industry - Ukrainian, partner, European.

While I am saying this, our robotic complexes are carrying out missions on the front - extremely important ones. In total, there are already tens of thousands of such missions. For the first time, Ukraine has radically changed the battlefield. This is much more than cool Hollywood stories about robots. This is about saving lives - the lives of soldiers, and this is reality - tens of thousands of times.

The same applies to our interceptors. There is a simple fact: Ukrainian interceptors are already shooting down at least 90% of the “shaheeds”. And there is something that is very significant in the long run. People are our people who continue to live. When every such goal from Russia does not reach its goal, when someone’s life remains intact.

At the beginning of the war, the "Russian warship" stood near Zmiiniy Island and - we remember, and we have mentioned this many times - abruptly ordered our Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their weapons. And he heard exactly where he should go. Today, this phrase sounds again, sounds often and in a different language - the language of the accuracy of our naval drones, the language of the thunder with which the "Neptune" strikes, our "Harpoon", each of our means that fairly punishes the occupier, and the language of sanctions that are noticeably hitting Russia and depriving Putin of funds for this war.

All of this together is our joint work, our joint “were able.” This is Ukraine today. A state that was given 72 hours, but it has endured 12 years of Russian aggression and 1,603 days of full-scale war. Russia started it and called it the SVO. And even in this they wanted to humiliate our statehood, to show the supposed inability and weakness of Ukraine. Their plan to capture us was designed for three days. As if for this, just some operation on some land that was supposedly gifted by someone would be enough.

Today, even Russian state propagandists admit: Ukraine is a strong state that Russia cannot and will not overcome. A state that Europe needs, that NATO needs. A state that does not wait, but creates, that does not ask – that offers: unique experience, technologies, opportunities, a unique security and political partnership. And Ukraine today is equally proud of the events that took place here over a thousand years ago, and of the operations that the state is implementing over a thousand kilometers from our border.

All this is our state, Ukraine-2026, which at the same time understands perfectly well: any technology is made valuable by people, without whom no innovation would make sense. People without whom Ukraine would make no sense, because without these people it would not have a state, statehood, freedom, independence.

These are all those without whom Ukraine would not be Ukraine. Our people, who work every day, every night for the sake of Ukraine. Our cities. Our strong Kharkiv, which has proven: geographical proximity to Russia does not mean mental proximity. And life in Ukrainian Kharkiv is gaining ground every day. Our strong Dnieper, which does not stop for a moment, traditionally moves the economy forward, saves thousands of wounded our heroic fighters. Our strong Odesa - our sea gate, a glorious city on the shores of our Black Sea - Odesa, which today experienced another cruel blow. Russian missiles against ordinary houses. My condolences to all the relatives of the deceased.

Our strong Sumy, our Chernihiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, who hold on despite everything, who live, build and teach our children. Unfortunately, in underground schools, but, fortunately, they teach. Unconquered, because they are strong, tough. And every such Ukrainian city, community, every village, where every morning people find the strength within themselves, who work, create. And it doesn’t matter, they make weapons or bake bread, – all this is our joint work, which strengthens the state and brings peace closer.

For all this, for every such moment, we are grateful to our defenders. To all the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine. To each and every one who defends our land, protects life, protects law and order in Ukraine, who holds the front, who closes our sky, fights the enemy every day and every night, so that this Statehood Day and all the following days of Ukraine's future are possible. And with great honor I want to award such people of ours today.

Glory to Ukraine!

Dear people!

This day is always meaningful. Today we are talking about the past, the present, and, of course, our future. We will see this future today – we will see it firsthand when our young Ukrainians receive their first passports as citizens of Ukraine.

It is always a very pleasant and truly poignant moment to see the eyes of these boys and girls, full of dreams, plans, and such an important confidence – confidence in Ukraine, and the absence of doubts about what the future of our state should be. This future is peaceful and the future is European.

Dear Ursulo!

I remember well February 28, 2022, when in the Office of the President, amidst the fortifications, amidst the sandbags, I, Ruslan Oleksiyovych, Denys Anatoliyovych – and there were many very brave guys with weapons, yes, – and then, on behalf of and with the support of the entire Ukrainian people, we applied for membership in the European Union. When the Russians stood near Kyiv, and we were launching and there were air strikes, there was mortal danger everywhere, certainly, all around, then we had faith, a dream and confidence that Ukraine would stand, that Ukraine had definitely earned this right – to be in our common European home.

And I remember saying this on March 1, 2022, addressing the European Parliament, long before believing in and helping Ukraine became mainstream. And I remember well who was a skeptic, who really did not doubt our people, did not doubt Ukraine. I want to thank you for always believing in us, Ursulo. Thank you! Thank you for going through this journey together: the application, candidate status, accession negotiations, the opening of two clusters, each of which will definitely happen. Although even before all this, it became obvious: the hearts of Ukraine and Europe have long been open to each other.

And the opening of all clusters will only fix this. We are sure of this, because Ukraine and Europe are one. And on this difficult path, Ukraine is not alone. And everyone who helps us overcome this path, Ukraine especially appreciates and will always remember the contribution to our common future. From today, these are not just words - this has been officially confirmed.

I signed the relevant law. It is a great honor to present Ursula with the first Ukrainian Order of Europe here today.

Dear Ursulo!

This is an award that no one can ever cancel or take away, because Ukraine's word is firm.

Dear friends of Ukraine! Our dear citizens!

July 15th has a special, double meaning. It is the Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus' – Ukraine. We ask God for peace for our land. On Statehood Day, we thank all those who achieve and bring this peace closer.

Ukraine is fighting for its future with double strength, because we live in times that require double strength, will, and endurance from us. And with double care we must protect our Ukrainian unity, which must be unchangeable. Regardless of positions, changes, new challenges, and tasks, our unity is unchangeable. Because only in this way, without losing it, will we not lose the strength to win the very day when Ukraine will gain its worthy, strong peace. We believe in this and bring it closer. We protect our statehood, our freedom, each other, and our Ukraine.

Happy Baptism Day of Ukraine-Rus!

Happy Ukrainian Statehood Day!

Glory to Ukraine!