Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that his country was „reborn” when Russia invaded it six months ago and vowed that Kyiv would never give up its fight for freedom.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.Photo: EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO
„We are the free people of independent Ukraine,” Zelensky said in an emotional speech to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day, as cited in English by state news agency Ukrinform.
He added: „After six months of attempts to destroy us, we are the free people of independent Ukraine. And this is the truth about our future. The free people of independent Ukraine.”
Zelensky also said in his address that „a new nation” appeared in the world „on February 24 at 4 a.m.”
He added, as quoted by the Reuters news agency: „It was not born, but reborn. A nation that did not cry, scream or take fright. One that did not flee. Did not give up. And did not forget.”
Wednesday marks 31 years since Ukraine regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and also exactly six months since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
Polish President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday visited Kyiv to mark the anniversary of Ukrainian independence and pledge more aid to the war-torn country.
Zelensky was quoted as saying on Tuesday that Ukraine would recapture its annexed Crimea peninsula from Russia „by any means we deem appropriate, without consulting other countries.”
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, ukrinform.net, Reuters