Speeches

Peace is not only about the absence of war. Peace is about freedom. It is about being a master on your own land. It is also about the right to freely choose and determine your own future. That is why for us peace and freedom are undivided. For us, Ukrainians, these values are not abstract, but very special ones. We know for sure what we fight for.

Today's event in the history of our country will remain in line with St. Vladimir’s baptism and the proclamation of Ukraine's independence. The Orthodox world will remember the day when the Church of Ukraine possessing equal rights joined the family of sister churches.

A moment later and the chronicle of the year 2018 will be left in the archive of the Ukrainian history. It has a special place there. Near 1991, when our state independence was declared.

Today is December 15. I ask everyone who is watching us now: in Ukraine, all over the world - remember very well. This day will enter or has already entered the history of Ukraine as a sacred day, the day of the creation of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The day of the final gaining of Ukrainian independence from Russia. And Ukraine will no longer drink, as Taras Shevchenko said, "Moscow’s poison from the Moscow’s bowl".

Martial law does not mean the declaration of war. It is introduced solely for the purpose of strengthening Ukraine's defense against the background of growing aggressiveness from Russia. Martial law does not mean our retreat from the political-diplomatic settlement in the east.

Only Ukraine's integration into the Euro-Atlantic area guarantees us peace and security, independence and poverty alleviation. We will not retreat from this strategy. Ukraine, going its own way, will definitely become a full member of NATO and a full member of the European Union.

Autocephaly is the part of our pro-European and pro-Ukrainian state strategy, which we have been consistently implementing over the past four years and, I emphasize, which we will implement hereafter. This is the foundation of our own path of development, the development of the State of Ukraine and the development of the Ukrainian nation.

Statement by the President of Ukraine during the General Debate of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: Global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies”

Since you have entrusted me with the post of the President, the state compass is heading to the West - in the direction opposite to the empire. Its arrow has never flinched. And I assure you, it will not flinch as long as this compass is in my hands. Moreover, I will insist on consolidating this aspiration to join the European Union and NATO in the Constitution.

I am grateful to the Crimeans who did not participate in this farce, despite serious pressure they were subjected to. They were threatened, forced, called to the so-called polling stations with gifts. But their silent protest eloquently testified - Crimea is Ukraine!