Inaugural address of the President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko to the Ukrainian people on Independence Square

My Dear Ukrainian people!

Honorable guests!

I am standing before you after having taken an oath of office, provided by the Constitution, in the Verkhovna Rada. My oath is unchanged, yet Ukraine and we did change.

We have lifted the burden of past from our shoulders. Nobody can order us how to live and whom to elect anymore.

I have become the President of Ukraine by the will of Ukrainian people. Today I want to speak to you looking into eyes. Today I have the honor of speaking to free people having in their hands the destiny of their country.  

In front of the people I would like to resume my oath of allegiance. I swear – we will change our life.

My victory is the victory of all Ukrainians and each Ukrainian citizen.

Thank God for Faith, Hope and Love. We won a victory with their power. I am praying that we will always keep them in our hearts.

I am grateful to Ukrainian people for their high confidence.

I am grateful to everybody who responded to my words “I believe in Ukraine. I know my duty. We will win together.” You have paved the way to the future for your country.

I am grateful to all citizens of Ukraine regardless whom they voted for. My victory is the victory of all of us. Everybody has a right to search the way for one’s country. Everybody has a right to choose the political colors appealing to him or her. Still our common choice – the colors of the National Flag of Ukraine. They unite us.

I am grateful to my team that was working for victory. You, my bloodbrothers, were standing firm on the way passed over together. I believe you will be persistent in work that you have to do.

I am grateful to my family, wife, children and grandchildren. You have been with me through my most difficult times. And you are celebrating with me today. I believe you will always be my hope and support.

I am bowing low before my father for his lessons, Yushchenko Andriy Andriyovych, a teacher from the village in Sumy oblast, prisoner of Auschwitz. I have been guided by father’s truth and have the honour of heading my country. I am grateful to my mother Varvara Tymofiyivna for her love and prayer that guard me. I am begging her pardon for the pain the mother’s heart had had to endure.

Dear friends! I am proud of being standing next to you here!

Two months ago millions of people came to this Maidan, to the squares and streets all over Ukraine. Our brothers and sisters, parents and children, friends and neighbors were standing day and night in the cold. Ukraine was devouring every word sounded here. The heart of Ukraine was beating here. Free people of the whole world, our compatriots dispersed in distant lands, were standing shoulder to shoulder with us. On Independence Square Ukrainians have risen as a modern Ukrainian nation.

Stubborn resistance has stirred up our souls. All of us feel we are citizens. Our decency, generosity and kindness have awakened. Armed with faith and will the people won a glorious victory. This is a victory of freedom over tyranny, law over lawlessness and the future over the past.

Each Ukrainian citizen has become the winner. We succeeded in holding fair election on 26 December. We have freely chosen to go forward.

Our choice is determined by all our history.

We have chosen for prosperity since poverty must not plague the land that was first ploughed up in the history of mankind.

We have chosen for justice, since lawlessness must not become a norm in the state where thousand years ago the “Ruska Pravda” law book was introduced.

We have chosen freedom, since tyranny must not rule over the successors of Cossack Republic where as long as three hundred years ago the First Constitution in Europe was written. We have chosen for independence, as we are the descendants of those generations that were dreaming of Ukrainian state for centuries and courageously fighting for their freedom.

Ukrainian state has been established. Our choice has proved once again. Our victory is the holiday of our state. On this day let’s commemorate the heroes who died for Victory, martyrs of Nazi and Soviet camps, victims of Holodomor (genocide famine of 1932-33) deportation and Holocaust. They see us and they are proud of us!

We have made our choice as we remember who we are, whose children and grandchildren we are. We should not look for the future’s answers in the past. However, we will always keep our origins. Only in this way we may remain true to ourselves. Only in this way we will always be victorious!

Our choice has raised great hopes. They are justified. They are absolutely realistic. We have everything for success. We have an abundant land. Talents of our compatriot amaze the whole world. We will achieve everything with our will and labour!

I am the President of all Ukraine. I am responsible for making the Donbas mines and Trans-Dnepr factories work, the ports of the Black Sea and Galicia trade waves function. I will do my best to provide the farmers of all Ukrainian regions with bread. Ukraine’s wealth is the wealth of its regions. I swear to preserve and increase it!

We, the Ukrainian citizens, have become a single Ukrainian nation. Nobody can separate us with languages, religion and political views. We have a single Ukrainian fate. We have a single national pride. We are proud of being Ukrainians!

We have already made our final step to democracy. Only democracy guards the most valuable things for every person – family and children, peace and order, work and well-being. Only in democratic state the highest values are human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity. Only democratic Ukraine the bright palette of languages, cultures and views may become the country’s wealth.

I pledge every child will be able to learn the language of one’s parents. Everyone will be able to pray in one’s church. Everyone will be guaranteed the right to freedom of expression. We will listen to each other because there will be freedom of speech and independent press. Everybody will be equal before the law. Independent court will defend the rights of each person. I regard Ukraine as a state ruled by the law.

We will establish democratic government – honest, professional and patriotic.

The wall between authorities and people to be destroyed. Renewed government will know one’s duty and work for the sake of its people and country. It will be equally honorable to be in power and in the opposition if you serve your country. We will have a moral government able to unite society.

Only through unity and democracy we will perform our national tasks. We were speaking about them during our numerous meetings. I will fulfill your will.

You want to have a job and decent wages, you feel bitter about leaving your homes in search of job abroad.

We will create jobs. Everyone willing to work will get a job and decent salary. Nothing can limit us in our initiative and desire to make our families prosperous. We will support everyone who provides others with work. Honest work will be respected. We will become a prosperous nation.

You strive for justice.

I will do everything possible so that nobody felt deprived. Everybody will enjoy the fruits of economic growth. We will move forward yet we won’t leave the sick and the old. The government will account before the people on each kopeck from the budget. Pensions and benefits will be constantly increasing. Person’s health and care for mother and child to be our top priorities. We will be a consolidated nation.

You want the election to be over. You want to live and work honestly and earn your money legally.

We will eliminate corruption and bring economy out of shadow. Taxes will be reduced but everybody will pay them. Business to be separated from power. Only those people who declared their incomes will assume state offices.   

We will be an honest nation.

You want to be masters at your places. You do not want authorities to decide everything. We will restore local communities in their rights. They will restore order in their streets, villages or cities on their own. You will elect your heads yourselves. You will earn your money yourself and spend them to your liking. We will be a nation of self-governed citizens.

You demand to protect your children against corruption and want to restore morality. We will defend our cultural wealth. Together with you I will cherish the garden of Ukrainian culture, to care for its ancient and young trees. Our roots will keep us from being brought away like rolling-stones with the winds of history. Our culture will turn the world to see our uniqueness. We will be a nation of high culture!

We will be a modern nation – in a dynamic world we will be as equals. Ukraine’s future – the best education, science and high technologies. I will do everything possible to make our nation use its full intellectual potential. We will be the first and the best!

Ukrainians will take a decent place in the international community. Ukraine will be neither a buffer nor a contest area. We are ready to respect the interests’ of other states. Nevertheless, for me as well as for you, national interests are above all!

We welcome our eastern and western neighbors. I will do my best to promote stable cooperation with all countries. Ukraine will be a reliable partner in the fight against old and new threats: tyranny, war, poverty, natural disasters and terrorism. Common search of the ways to security and prosperity – this is Ukraine’s responsibility. We are ready for it.

Our way to the future – is the way followed by the United Europe. We are the people of the same civilization sharing the same values. History, economic prospects and the interests of people give a clear answer – where we should look for our fate. Our place is in the European Union. My goal is – Ukraine in the United Europe.

Ukraine has its historical chance to discover its potential in Europe. Our national strategy – to move towards our goal boldly, directly and persistently. European standards to become a norm of our social life, economy and politics. Every step to Europe is new opportunities for the millions of Ukrainians. 

Not long ago many people thought joining the European Union a long-term prospect. Yet free European nations quickened their steps many times. The  symbols of speedy changes are the ruins of Berlin wall, Warsaw round table and our Maidan in Kyiv. Ukraine opens European history of the third millennium. We are not Europe’s suburbs anymore. We are the center of Europe.

Dear friends! We shoulder ambitious tasks. I am fully convinced – soon they will turn into glorious deeds. I will spare no effort to make all Ukrainians without exception believe in themselves and their country. We have already proved we can both dream and work. We are ready to sacrifice ourselves and able to achieve success!

We turn over a new page in Ukrainian history. It will be wonderful. It will tell about our unity, courage and our determination to support each other. And Maidan figures out in our history. Here we will gain our strength and share our joy. This Square is a symbol of free nation that believes in its power and creates its future on its own. And the national blue and yellow flag will always fly over us. The National Anthem will sound with millions of voices. All our dreams will come true. Believe in Ukraine, love Ukraine, serve Ukraine!

Glory to God! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to you!

Live in peace!