Congratulations to everybody on this a day. On UkrainesIndependence Day.

This is a very special day not only for Ukraine and not only for Ukrainians.

This is a very special day for the whole of Europe and the entire democratic world.

Because Ukraine is the only democracy on the European continent and worldwide which at this moment is fighting abloody war of defence, defence of its independence. Fighting against a much bigger aggressor, against neo-imperial autocratic Russia, and fighting in a very successful, victorious way.

Your independence is our independence.

Because European democracy and European freedom is not possible without the independence of Ukraine.

You are fighting not only for your independence, but also for the future of free Europe.

The future of Europe would be totally different if Putin would succeed.

But he will not succeed. Because there is Ukraine. Ukraine with its flag. Ukraine with its people. With its brave soldiers and brave volunteers. With its most innovative defence industry. And with the Euro-Maidan spirit of European integration.

Ukraine is the nation of heroes. Your victorious fight for your independence will be written into history textbooks for  thousands of years to come. Next to the glorious victories of the ancient world.

Today it is very clear that Putin and Lavrov are afraid of your independence. And of the security guarantees which the leaders of the West are ready to provide for your independence.

That is why we need to ask today: why is the Kremlin so afraid of Western security guarantees to Ukraine?

My answer is very simple.

Because they will make it more difficult for Putin to plan a new aggression against Ukraine.

Russias reality is that Putin thinks that his regime can become insecure, if Ukraine becomes secure and able to develop its economic and social success through European integration. Because the success of Ukraine with its inspirational power to ordinary Russians is the biggest threat to the survival of the dictatorial Putin regime. That is the logic of the Kremlinsanalysis of the biggest threats to the existence of their autocratic regime.

That is why Putin started the war against the success of Ukraine. That is why Putin/Lavrov will never agree to real security guarantees for the success of Ukraine.

But the question is - who needs their agreement on security guarantees to Ukraine, which will be provided by the Western “coalition of the willing”?

Nobody!

Recently, in Washington, western leaders were able to show unprecedented unity and leadership on the issue of Ukraine. Including on security guarantees. 

That scares the Kremlin regime. That is why Lavrov spoke in such an aggressive way against them. Because the Kremlin is starting to understand - they lost. Security guarantees will pave the way for the future success of Ukraine.

The biggest threat to the future of Russia comes only from Putin regime itself.

Not from NATO. And not from Ukraine. And not from success of Ukraine.

The European Union is standing together with you. Both in defence of your independence and in building your success through the European integration of Ukraine. In the same way as the success of the Baltic States and Central Europe was built. And we shall continue to support defence of your independence and your success.

Because your independence and your success is the major security guarantee for all of us, for the whole of Europe.

That is why you do not need to thank us for our support, but we need to say very loudly to you “Thank You! Thank you very much for what you are doing, defending all of us. Defending the future of Europe, the future of our kids and grandkids. Thank you very much for your heroic bravery”.

Slava Ukrainy!