Foreign Officials Participate in Ukraine’s Statehood Day Celebrations with Zelenskyy
On July 15, Kyiv marked Ukraine’s Statehood Day with an official ceremony attended by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Gaze reports on this, referring to the President’s Office YouTube channel.
The event, which took place on the historic Sofia Square, was broadcast live, offering a glimpse into the celebration of this significant national holiday.
This year’s commemoration was graced by prominent foreign dignitaries, including Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, U.S. Special Representative Keith Kellogg, and representatives from the diplomatic corps, state institutions, churches, and religious communities.
In his speech, President Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of the day, describing it as a moment of reflection on the deep historical roots of Ukrainian statehood.
“As always in free Kyiv, we celebrate Ukrainian Statehood Day – the day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus-Ukraine. And we do it right here, on these hills, in this very place, which is the source of all the great history of our part of Europe, our culture, our Ukrainian people, and our national character,” said Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s contribution to European history cannot be overlooked, stating that the country has played a pivotal role in shaping freedom and human dignity across the continent.
“Without Ukraine, without the battles fought here, without the legendary figures, without what our people did and the connections between many countries, especially with Ukraine, it is simply impossible to imagine the full and honest history of Europe,” he asserted. “It is here, in Ukraine, that the future of Europe will be determined.”
The ceremony also featured the presentation of state awards, battle flags, and honorary ribbons.
Statehood Day, celebrated annually on July 15, was officially established in 2021 through a decree signed by President Zelenskyy to coincide with the commemoration of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus-Ukraine.
This day honors the legacy of Saint Volodymyr the Great, the founder of the Kyivan state and a key figure in the history of Christianity in Eastern Europe.
As The Gaze reported earlier, on July 14, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump’s special representative Keith Kellogg discussed the Russian-Ukrainian war.