The commemoration opened with a tribute to fallen defenders of Ukraine before speeches and a street rendition of the national anthem, with participants voicing gratitude for Poland’s solidarity during the full-scale war.
Myroslava Keryk, president of the Ukrainian House foundation, told participants: “We must be a strong support for those who fight for Ukraine. Ukraine means freedom, democracy, human rights, and we must be united. These 34 years of independence give us strength.”
Representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy in Poland also addressed the gathering.
“Today we, Ukrainians, are a great and unbreakable nation,” said first secretary Larysa Sydorenko. “I thank everyone who preserves the language, the culture, and raises children in the Ukrainian spirit even abroad.”
In a televised address from Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said: “We are building a Ukraine strong and powerful enough to live in security and peace. So that here, on this square, on our Independence Square, beneath our flags, on our land, our children and grandchildren will celebrate Independence Day.”
Ukraine declared independence on August 24, 1991, when parliament’s proclamation ended its membership in the Soviet Union.
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Source: PAP