Editor's note: This is the transcript of President Volodymyr Zelensky's address released by the President's Office on Aug. 24, 2025, Ukraine's 34rd Independence Day.
And now, in a full-scale war for independence, it is here, on Maidan, that one can find such important symbols.
It is the starting point where distances to Ukrainian cities are written: to our Donetsk, our Luhansk, our Crimea.
And there are our people, and no distance between us can change that, and no temporary occupation can change that.
One day, the distance between Ukrainians will disappear, and we will be together again as one family, as one country.
So that on this square, on the Maidan of our Independence, under our flags, on our land, our children and grandchildren will celebrate Independence Day.
With respect and gratitude to all who defended Ukraine in this war, the war for independence. »