Zelensky: There Is No Doubt – Ukraine Will Always Be Independent

President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence on Monday, Aug. 24, declaring the country will “always” remain sovereign.The Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine was adopted by parliament in 1991, following the failed Soviet coup – also known as the “August Coup.” During the short-lived attempt to seize power, Communist Party officials placed then-President Mikhail Gorbachev under house arrest.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“There is no doubt about it,” Zelensky said in a statement. “Ukrainians will not submit to what they do not believe in, and they certainly will not abandon their dream – the dream of living, the dream of living independently.”Rejecting submissionZelensky used the anniversary to reject framing Ukraine’s sovereignty as a matter of negotiation between larger powers.“Ukrainians will not be paving stones beneath the feet of tsars and leaders,” he said, adding that Ukrainians will not be “a bargaining chip in disputes between capitals” either.State awards given to soldiers and civiliansIn a separate statement posted to his Telegram shortly afterward, Zelensky said the anniversary was also marked with state honors for those who have sustained Ukraine’s existence through the war.“In honor of our greatest national holiday, we are presenting Ukrainian state awards to those without whom Ukraine would not exist, ” he said, honoring soldiers and fallen civilians posthumously.He also awarded battle flags and ribbons of the distinction “For Courage and Valor” to military units. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine at 35: The Nation Dudayev Warned Russia Could Not Subdue Ukraine did exactly what Dudayev urged decades ago: become strong – turning Putin’s dream of rebuilding Moscow’s empire into an unfulfilled one. Among those honored posthumously, Zelensky named Junior Lieutenant Nazariy Hryntsevych (call sign “Grenka”), head of the search organization “Platsdarm” Oleksii Yukov, and schoolboy Stepan Chubenko – who was killed by Russian militants.Recognition for public figuresSeveral prominent Ukrainians were also recognized for their contributions, including sport shooting champion Olena Kostevych, Superhumans rehabilitation center director Olha Rudnieva, Bishop Vitali Kryvytski, and artist Anatoliy Kryvolap and singer Zlata Ohnevich.“I want to thank every person who makes their personal contribution to ensuring that Ukraine not merely preserves but consistently strengthens its independence,” Zelensky said.“Thank you for being part of Ukraine, and for our state being able to be proud of you,” he continued.His remarks came as 10 Ukrainian servicemen, who had been listed as missing in action, returned home via Belarus earlier that day.In addition, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv on Monday for his first official visit to Ukraine as the country celebrated its independence, while the UK government agreed to permit defense company MBDA to declassify information on British components used in Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles.The decision follows the UK’s 2023 delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.