‘To gain our own statehood, we must fight; to preserve it, we must unite’: Zelenskyy on UA Unity Day
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Ukrainians on Unity Day and emphasized that since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainians have joined hands, choosing “the chain of unity over the shackles of enslavement,” NV reports on Jan. 22.
January 22 is a significant holiday for Ukraine - the Ukrainian Unity Day – which commemorates the first proclamation of Independence and the Act of Union between Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) and the West Ukrainian People's Republic (ZUNR) in the early 20th Century.
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Independence was proclaimed on Jan. 22, 1918 by the Decree of Ukrainian Central Council, then Ukrainain Parliament, and a year later, on the same day, the historic unification of two Ukrainian states took place at Sophia Square in Kyiv. For the first time in many centuries, historical Ukrainian regions united into one state.
The main tradition on the Unity Day is a live human chain, which Ukrainians build joining hands, symbolizing the unification of Ukrainian lands and state unity.
The Day of Unity of Ukraine was first celebrated at the state level in 1999 after a decree by then-President Leonid Kuchma. Pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych canceled the official celebration of Unity Day in 2011 for political reasons. President Petro Poroshenko reinstated Unity Day as a national holiday in 2014.
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NV highlights the main points of Zelenskyy’s Unity Day address.
About the historical context and the struggle for Ukrainian independence:
“Exactly 105 years ago, here at Sophia Square in Kyiv, these lines were proclaimed: ‘The age-old dreams have been realized, dreams that the best sons of Ukraine lived and died for. From now on, the centuries-separated parts of one Ukraine merge into a single state.’
These words are from the Act of Unification, which merged the Ukrainian lands on both sides of the Dnipro into a single state. And for this reason, we celebrate the Day of Unity of Ukraine today.
Every year on January 22, we always remember two key lessons from those times, two beacons for all generations of the Ukrainian nation: to gain our own statehood, we must fight; to preserve it, we must unite.
About the unity of Ukrainians worldwide:
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“We all fight. And today, this applies not only to both banks of the Dnipro. Today, the unity of Ukrainians covers both hemispheres of the Earth… I am Ukrainian. I’m Ukrainian. These words are heard on all continents where our people live. Those who, since the start of the full-scale war, regardless of place of residence, birth, passport, proudly said: “I am Ukrainian.” Proved it with actions. Our multimillion diaspora, our lobbyists of Ukrainian interests worldwide. Those who collect, find, pack, and send everything needed for victory. All who have not forgotten their roots and do not let the world forget about Ukraine. All in whose veins flows Ukrainian blood and in whose chests beats a free heart. Ukrainians by origin who have long proven that they are Ukrainians in spirit.”
About dual citizenship:
“Today, I am submitting a key bill to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine [Ukraine’s parliament] that will enable comprehensive changes to legislation and the introduction of multiple citizenship. It will allow all ethnic Ukrainians and their descendants from different countries around the world to have our citizenship. Of course, except for citizens of the aggressor country.
Everyone who during various waves of emigration was forced to leave their native land, finding themselves in Europe, the USA, Canada, countries of Asia, Latin America. Everyone who helps us despite hundreds and thousands of kilometers from the native land.
Foreign volunteers who have defended Ukraine, everyone who fights for the freedom of Ukraine, as for their own homeland. And Ukraine will become one for them.
For all who can feel that being in Ukraine means being at home. Not as tourists, but as citizens. Of a great, united, single Ukraine.”
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
