On August 24, Ukraine celebrates the most significant national holiday - the 30th anniversary of Independence. It was established to honor an exceptional historical event - the adoption of the Act of Independence of Ukraine in 1991 with the absolute majority of votes of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR. This document culminated the thousand-year aspirations of the Ukrainian people to have their sovereign state and determine their destiny. For Ukrainians, it has always been freedom and dignity that constituted the fundamental values. They inspired the struggle for our independence. At the beginning of the twentieth century, during the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1921, our people were able to revive statehood, and on August 24, 1991, by the Act of Independence of Ukraine, it was restored.

The rise of sovereign Ukraine played a crucial role in the collapse of the USSR, the final dismantling of the communist totalitarian system. It was the beginning of a new stage in the development of a modern democratic Ukrainian state. Today, Ukraine's independence is a prerequisite of the free development of the states and peoples of Europe and a major obstacle to Russian imperialism, which is trying to absorb Ukraine politically, economically, and spiritually. Today, in the face of Russian aggression, we continue to fight for our freedom and independence.

Independence for Ukrainians means, first and foremost, new opportunities and supremacy of human rights. A strong and free Ukrainian state, an active and responsible civil society, and powerful armed forces are safeguards of a prosperous future for all Ukrainians.

During the years of independence, Ukraine showed to the world that it has established itself as a state capable of adopting democratic values, upholding freedom, dignity, and diversity, defending its sovereignty and integrity. We have managed to build a tolerant society in which different ethnic, religious, and social groups can find common grounds and mutual respect.