“The reunion, or as it was called at that time - zluka, has originated from the national liberation struggle of the Ukrainian people, historic movement of Ukrainians towards the creation of their own state. From dreams, aspirations and efforts of many generations of fighters for independence and unity,” the President said at festivities on the occasion of the Day of Unity of Ukraine.

Even though the unification of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and the West Ukrainian People's Republic in 1919 was symbolic, it had a crucial importance for the establishment of the Ukrainian state in its present borders. It has outlined geographic, political and identifying contours of united Ukraine.

“Unity remained a powerful, life-giving idea conveyed to posterity. That is why we celebrate this day in such a festive way. Unity, as I’ve said earlier, is an indivisible whole from all Ukrainian lands that once belonged to different empires and are now united in the European independent Ukrainian state,” the Head of State said.

The President emphasized: “Unity is not just a common territory. This is a spiritual unity, common values, ideals and aspirations. This is a great strong family of all Ukrainian citizens”.

According to the President, Ukrainian families speak Ukrainian, Russian, Crimean Tatar and other languages, but they are consolidated by a single Ukrainian state. We belong to different churches, but we have one God. And one land. We have common past and problems. We rejoice and mourn together. We have a common enemy, common goal and common unity.

“Unity is a unitary structure of the state. However, we will respect Ukraine’s diversity and specifics of local communities. Decentralization provides unique opportunities for that. This diversity is not our flaw. Instead, it makes us richer and stronger,” Petro Poroshenko said.

The Head of State noted that on January 22, 1919, unification of two state formations emerged from the wreckage of different empires into a single united Ukraine was declared in Kyiv on St. Sophia’s Square. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. “Historic documents that we can look through today has been implemented 72 years after. And in 1919, united Ukraine failed to become a reality. And state independence was lost for a long period of time,” he said.

“Today, dear Ukrainian brothers and sisters, we are obliged to think why it happened. Why Helsinki, that I will visit the day after tomorrow, will celebrate the 100th anniversary of independence and Kyiv only celebrated the 25th anniversary of independence last year. Why did we and Ukraine lost 75 summers and winters? Why is Finland one of the most successful countries of the EU and why has Ukraine embarked on the path of European modernization only now? Why didn’t Finland cross the red line of self-destruction despite extreme political competition? Why did it manage to protect itself? And why did internal strife destroyed Ukraine?” the President noted.

“In times of threats and danger, we must sacrifice our ambitions and interests for the sake of preservation of national unity and preservation of Ukraine,” Petro Poroshenko said.

The President emphasized that over the past recent years on the days of state holidays we not only recall historic figures, but also bow to the memory of modern Ukrainian heroes - Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and Heroes of War for Independence in the struggle against the Russian aggressor.

“Our heroes fight in the east to return the entire Ukrainian land. From the extreme northern point, Gremyach village in Chernihiv region, to the extreme southern point, Foros in Ukrainian Crimea. From the extreme western point, Solomonove village in Zakarpattia region, to the extreme eastern point, Rannia Zoria in Luhansk region. The fallen heroes has sacrificed the most precious - their lives,” the Head of State said.

Before the solemn event, the President honored memory of the fallen Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred Serhiy Nigoyan and Mikhail Zhiznevsky and took part in the ceremony of laying flowers to the monuments to Taras Shevchenko and Mykhailo Hrushevsky.