The principles of the adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine 26 years ago are the basis of the country's struggle now. They explain why and what Ukrainians are fighting for, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the occasion of Ukraine's Constitution Day.
"Ancient documents and chronicles, historical and legal monuments, religious traditions and folk customs, science, literature, music, painting, legends and myths, proverbs and sayings and even news broadcasts. It all portrays our state and you and me in our own way. But there is one thing that, in my opinion, gives the most detailed and objective assessment. It is the Constitution of Ukraine", - said Zelensky.
The president noted that this is the point of development to which Ukrainians have reached as a state and society over centuries of history.
"The state structure is our intelligence. The form of government shows whether we have moved to the next level of civilization, whether we are stuck in the era of tyranny and dictatorship. The Constitution, like an X-ray, shows our strengths and weaknesses. Our principles, our values, our ideals. The level of freedom and rights we are willing to defend. The level of maturity and responsibilities we are willing to fulfill. The norms of the Constitution provide an opportunity to decipher the genetic code of our nation. To find the answer to two main questions: what Ukraine is and who the Ukrainians are," said Zelensky.
He noted that this is our detailed portrait.
"And especially now, in times of full-scale war, its main features are clearly visible. We adopted the Basic Law of the State 26 years ago. Twenty-six years later, it is a basic law for us to defend our state. Why. The answer is in the Preamble to the Constitution. The foundations of its adoption 26 years ago are the foundations of our struggle now. They explain why and what we are fighting for. It is the right of the Ukrainian nation for self-determination, the universally recognized independence of Ukraine, the irreversibility of the path to Europe. This is the responsibility before God, own conscience, the previous, present and future generation", - said Zelensky.
The president noted that Ukraine is a unitary state.
"Our territory within the existing borders is integral and inviolable. And so in the east and west, in the south, north and center, our people heroically fight for these principles and the second article of our Constitution. Who are holding back the second army of the world. Which is indifferent to all the threats and risks of World War III. But we are not indifferent to the norms of the third article of the Constitution. Man, his life and health, honor and dignity, inviolability and security are the highest social value. And our people defend this principle at the cost of life, health and safety. With honor and dignity!" - stressed Zelensky.
The President noted that only the people can change the constitutional order in Ukraine.
"No one can usurp state power. We know the term "democracy" well, so we do not know what the fifth term is. We have the right to protest, assembly and demonstration is a constitutional article, while someone else has a criminal one.The occupant expected a hospitable welcome, but received fierce resistance. The meeting was not with bread and salt, but with Stugna and Javelins, Bayraktar and Neptun, Olha and Haimars," Zelensky said.
He recalled that the Ukrainian resistance has lasted for 125 days.
"For the world is the eighth miracle, for the enemy - the ninth shaft, and for us - the 17th article of the Constitution of Ukraine. The defense of Ukraine is the most important function of the state and the cause of the entire Ukrainian people. It is the inalienable right to life, which Russia has violated tens of thousands of times and taken tens of thousands of lives. It is the inviolability of home, which is violated daily and every night by its missiles, bombs and bullets," Zelensky said.
Zelensky said that Ukraine is fighting today to defend, liberate and rebuild.
"In order for our future generations to have rights, our generation does not have the right to surrender. Nor do we have that desire. The enemy will not be able to realize the strength with which we are willing to fight for our will, for our rights and freedoms. He who does not have it himself will never deprive others of it. That is why victory is inevitable for us. For the enemy, punishment is inevitable. And it will come. Peace will come. And our children will finally go to school. They know from childhood what freedom is and the struggle for it. What rights are. What the Constitution of Ukraine is. And what glorious legal ancestors it has," said Zelensky.
The President also mentioned the Constitution of Philip Orlyk, which is more than 300 years old.
"It is called the first written Constitution of Europe. And last year it visited home, in Ukraine, for the first time. It was exhibited in Kyiv, but it is fair that it should be read in every corner of Ukraine. For this purpose, it will be translated from Latin into Ukrainian, and tens of thousands of copies will be sent to Ukrainian schools. We are sure that sooner or later both the Constitution of Philip Orlyk and the Constitution of independent Ukraine and other subjects of the Ukrainian school will be studied by our happy and smiling children - in Donetsk, Lugansk, Mariupol, Kherson, in Crimea. Victory is just around the corner. Victory is for us", - stressed Zelensky.
