Petro Poroshenko

“ I will focus on one thing that is at the core of Ukraine’s existence today: freedom.
There are moments in history when freedom is more than just a political concept.
At those moments, freedom becomes the ultimate choice, which defines who you are – as a person and as a nation.
Ukraine has lived this moment over the last 10 months – and became the scene of the most heroic story of the last decade, a synonym for sacrifice, dedication and the unbreakable will to live free. ”

“ By signing the agreement with the EU, Ukraine, as a European state, sharing common values of democracy and the rule of law, is underlining its sovereign choice in favor of future membership in the EU in accordance with article 49 of the EU Treaty. The Association Agreement is considered by Ukraine as an instrument of comprehensive preparation to the achievement of this goal. The EU is more than just an exclusive club of rich nations, the EU is an idea, the right answer for Europe. And today, we all, EU and non-EU, make an important step to turn this idea to the reality. ”

“ Today Ukraine pays a very high price for defending what we believe in – democracy and freedom to choose our own future. For more than two decades we proudly stated that Ukraine gained its independence without shedding a single drop of blood.
Today Ukraine is bleeding for its independence and territorial integrity.
Governor General of Canada Ramon Hnatyshyn in his speech at the Ukrainian Parliament in 1992 stated: “We must not forget people’s suffering which we are witnessing”. ”

“ And from the bottom of heart, I deeply, profoundly wish that church candles would be the only things burned in Ukraine from now on.
Over the last months, Ukrainians have shown that they have the courage to stand up to the most powerful enemy.
We will never obey or bend to the aggressor. We are ready to fight. But we are a people of peace.
I am ready to do my utmost to avoid a further escalation and casualties – even at this point, when the war has already started feeding on itself.
Sooner or later, peace will return to Ukrainian homes. ”

“ Ukraine is diverse, but it is strong and single in spirit!
Striving for peace and unity of our state prevails in all regions of Ukraine.
I am deeply impressed with patriotism of citizens in southern and eastern regions, from Odesa to Kharkiv.
Peace has not come yet, but today we can confidently say that hard challenges united Ukrainian family.
They strengthened us as Ukrainian political nation which is confident in its European choice.
Our people has never been so strong.
But freedom is not given once and forever. One must always struggle for it. ”

“ I am sure that, despite the Crimean annexation and the ongoing aggression, millions of Russians still remember that slogan and take it seriously.
Let’s remind them of it!
Let’s show them that freedom is not a luxury (as some try to convince them) , but a necessity – and a precondition for the true success of a nation!
I am convinced that the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia have enough goodwill to give peace one last chance and prevail against the spirit of hate. ”

“ Victorious Revolution of dignity has not only changed the government.
The country has changed. People have changed.
The time of inevitable positive changes has come.
To implement them, we need first of all peace, security and unity.
A real war, planned and unleashed in the Ukrainian Donbas, became an obstacle for enormous opportunities that opened for the European modernization of Ukraine after the fall of tyranny.
Until now, many people thought that we got independence without any difficulty.
It is not true! Entire generations of Ukrainian patriots struggled for our independence. ”

“ Still, challenges and risks Ukraine has faced since the beginning of 2014 are really impressive. It is like the other world. A country, which was immediately transformed into dictatorship and totalitarianism on January 16, 2014. A country, which received independence easily and had to pay an extremely high price for the second birth of its independence in February, when hundred best Ukrainian men and women, irrespective of their nationality, sacrificed their lives for the birth of a new country and a new people. ”

“ Today the Ukrainian Canadian community is over a million people. It is strong, it is consolidated, it preserves the language of their Homeland, faith and traditions. Ukraine has always felt proud of Ukrainian Canadians and is grateful for their lasting support. ”

“ Standing here, I am grateful – and fully aware that this honor goes not to me, but to the people of Ukraine – those brave men and women who are today on the forefront of the global fight for democracy! ”

“ Our army must become a true elite of the Ukrainian community.
The word "general" must be associated with the word "hero", not with the word "corruption".
We must do ourselves everything to ensure lasting peace and security of Ukraine.
Our most reliable allies and the best guarantors of peace are our army, fleet, the National Guard and professional special forces!
Nobody will protect us until we learn to defend ourselves. ”

“ It is definitely the most difficult year since 1945 for Ukraine, Europe and the world in general. The world has become more dangerous and less predictable. Global post-war security system has been destroyed and it doesn’t work anymore. ”

“ I remember you mentioning that Canada is probably the most Ukrainian nation outside Ukraine itself. This is true. Let me reciprocate. There are great European nations, which stood at the source of foundation of modern Canada. Canada has friends all over the Globe, and the closest one next to it. However, I doubt that you will find another nation, which could tell, so sincerely, what I am about to tell you. Ukraine is probably the most Canadian nation after Canada itself.
I had this feeling today at the meeting with a lot of Canadians. ”

“ The top-priority task is to implement reforms and create all conditions for the economic growth in 2016. We must stabilize the economy, launch new reforms that will ensure absolutely different position on the investment climate, make resolute steps in guaranteeing the rule of law and struggle against corruption. This will allow converting high international authority of Ukraine into direct foreign investments. ”

“ I am confident that we will have peace, we will stop the war with the assistance of the whole world. We will do everything for the world to be united. Canada helps us, it shows that it is with Ukraine. Thank you!
Without this support provided by the Government of Canada, by all parliamentarians and by the Ukrainian Canadian community under the leadership of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, it would be much harder for Ukraine to face the challenges of today. ”

“ Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova are the countries that demonstrate new economic goals. But first and foremost it is freedom and democracy in the post-Soviet space that will depend on the ability of these three countries to implement necessary reforms stipulated by the Agreement. ”

“ Providing people with work and decent salary is the first guarantee of internal peace and national security.
While economic management falls within the competence of free market or the Government, President as a guarantor of the Constitution is obliged to provide conditions for innovative economy and social justice.
Fair distribution of national wealth is an urgent demand of time.
But we must increase the national wealth before distributing it.
Ukraine has everything to ensure the European prosperity for people.
We can and want to live by our own labor ”

“ Today thousands of brave Ukrainian men and women are sacrificing their lives for the right to live the way they chose to, on their land, under the blue and golden colors of the Ukrainian flag, colors which are so dear to many Canadian Ukrainians. ”

“ The world remains civilized and the fact that the entire world has united over Ukraine, the whole world has demonstrated firm unity and solidarity with Ukraine proves that we have serious grounds for optimism. ”

“ In Ukraine, you don’t build a democracy – it already exists. ”

“ In 1892, a century before Canada was the first to recognize Ukraine’s independence, the first Ukrainian emigrants Ivan Pylypiv and Vasyl Yelynyak arrived. They launched further numerous Ukrainian emigration to the Pacific Coast settling across the woods and prairies of Canada. The Ukrainian community has easily integrated into the Canadian society. They built railways and towns, schools and churches, heroically fought against the Nazi during the World War Second, contributed to the Canadian economy and culture. ”

“ So do Ukrainian citizens and taxpayers.
However, there are moments in history, whose importance cannot be measured solely in percentages of GDP growth.
Ukraine’s war is the only war of the last decade that is purely about values. ”

“ The first attack has been faced by 6 thousand Ukrainian soldiers having only small arms, scattered across the entire front. In a few months, Ukraine has created one of the most combat capable armies on the continent. Now, foreigners come to us to study our experience, operations and technologies of fighting against the hybrid war. ”

“ No other leader or nation, no one, I mean it, with the possible exception of Poland was so straightforward and earnest when sending the signal across to Russians and the rest of the World that fighting a nation which is trying to chart its own path is just conceptually wrong. ”

“ It is a choice between civilization and barbarism.
And while standing at this juncture, before this great trial – the democratic world cannot shrink or hesitate!
We do not want to see all the democratic accomplishments of the last decades to be erased and to have been for nothing.
The free world must stand its ground. ”

“ Militants have been refusing to set them free for 6 months. Many of hostages were sentenced to death, warriors of volunteer battalions and the National Guard among them. Only extremely active efforts and well-coordinated steps let 150 Ukrainian servicemen meet the New Year at home. I am very happy for them.
The Chonhar peninsula and the Arabat Spit have also been liberated. The Ukrainian border guards have liberated the territory of Kherson region completely.
Still, difficult tasks are ahead. We can fulfill them only demonstrating unity and responsibility. ”

“ A country, where direct armed aggression of the neighboring state against our state was initiated in the middle of 2014. A country, whose economic base was destroyed at the beginning of the year because of the reckless and irresponsible financial policy. ”

“ At that time, our politicians were not able to unite and resist aggression jointly.
Volodymyr Vynnychenko fought against Mykhailo Hrushevskyi, Symon Petliura fought against Pavlo Skoropadskyi. And Nestor Makhno fought against all. ”

“ That arming rebels with advanced antiaircraft systems, providing them with operators, intelligence and flight data is wrong. Those who were equipped, trained and financed by Russia executed a terrorist attack shooting down a civilian MH17 flight killing 298 innocent lives of nationals of Netherlands, Malaysia, Australia and others. ”

“ Now they have invaded Ukraine. The right to protect ethnic Russians, and even Russian speakers, can and already has become a reason to fan the flames of war. Besides Ukraine, the Russian speakers reside in Moldova, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Baltic States, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria. ”