Statehood is the embodiment of the nation's path to its own state. The core of statehood is the will for self-determination, the historical experience of the people, its mentality, and legal traditions. And the state is a means of ensuring and guaranteeing the integral existence of the nation.
The signs of successful statehood are the realized right of the nation to independence, an effective state apparatus, a capable army, a system of legal norms, international recognition of the state, and its legal identification in the world.
The state and statehood are inseparable, like a tree and its roots. Without historical roots, the state cannot exist. History gives society an awareness of the connection between generations and the construction of a common path.
The Ukrainian tradition of state-building has a millennium-long history and begins with the formation of the Kievan Rus state by Prince Oleg in 882. It was during the princely era that the Old Ukrainian language was formed, the first self-name of our people emerged - "Rus," "Rusichi," "Rusyns," and our alphabet became Cyrillic. From that time, our national emblem - the trident, the name of the currency unit - hryvnia, and the use of the word "Ukraine" since 1187 are known to us. Ukraine is the rightful heir to the state and cultural tradition of Kievan Rus.
But the most epoch-making event in our national history was the Baptism of Rus on July 15, 988, by the Kievan Prince Volodymyr the Great. The acceptance of Christianity marked the acceptance by the people and the state not only of the highest ethical and moral norms but also caused a fundamental change in worldview, the flourishing of education and culture, the formation of national unity, the development of the first code of laws, and the minting of our own currency. The masterpieces of world-class architecture built at that time - St. Sophia Cathedral, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, as well as significant monuments in other cities of Ukraine, remain the adornment and calling card of the capital.
According to Volodymyr Vynnychenko, statehood is the organization of all material and spiritual existence of the whole nation, a complex of those institutions of economy, politics, and culture that operate in the territory inhabited by a national collective and bind it into a compact whole, ensuring development in the present and future. History teaches that only one's own state is the best way to preserve life and development for both the whole nation and each individual.
The Day of Ukrainian Statehood is inseparably linked to the development of the army and military traditions. The defenders of our statehood are the descendants of the warriors-Rusyns, Cossacks, Sich Riflemen, and UPA fighters. The modern Armed Forces of Ukraine, deterring the aggressor - the Russian Federation, defending the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, prove that Ukrainians are a military nation.
Throughout a long history, Ukrainians have not ceased to fight for freedom and the attainment of statehood. The first independence of Ukraine in the 20th century was proclaimed on January 22, 1918. By the act of August 24, 1991, it was restored.
Several times in the 20th century, Ukraine gained sovereignty and lost it due to internal disagreements during external aggression. The experience of past centuries has shown that having one's own state is the only way to ensure physical existence and a guarantee of stable development and unity of the nation. It is evident that throughout its historical path, the Ukrainian people have always shown a desire and action to achieve their own Ukrainian Independent United State.
That is why, on the day of honoring the memory of the outstanding state-builder Prince Volodymyr the Great and on the Day of the Baptism of Kievan Rus - Ukraine honors all stages of our state-building - from Rus to the present day, and all those who contributed to Ukraine's existence as an independent, democratic state.