Edited by Anna Popper
On 24 August 2025, Ukraine celebrated the 34th anniversary of its restored independence – a day that resonated across the world amid the nation’s fourth year of full-scale war. This commemoration marked Ukraine’s 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union, highlighting both the country’s historical sovereignty and the ongoing struggle to defend it.
As part of the official ceremonies, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with his spouse Olena Zelenska, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (on an official visit) paid tribute to the fallen defenders at the Wall of Remembrance in Kyiv, honouring the heroes who gave their lives for Ukraine’s independence and freedom.
President Zelenskyy and Olena Zelenska also attended a joint prayer at St. Sophia’s Cathedral, invoking peace and security for Ukraine, praying for the nation’s warriors, and for a safe, prosperous future for Ukrainian people.
Independence in the Face of War
On Kyiv’s Independence Square, President Zelenskyy delivered a heartfelt address that captured the nation’s resolve and the enduring significance of freedom:
“Dear Ukrainians! Dear people! Today is Ukraine’s Independence Day. I am here now, in the heart of Kyiv, on Independence Square. This is the place where one can truly feel what independence means, why it is so vital to us. Maidan is more than just the main square of our country – it is a symbol of independence, a guardian of our statehood. This is where history is made, where the energy and strength of our people are born in times of threat to our independence.”
He continued: “We will defend our independence and our land, and the right to an independent national life for Ukrainians. So that our children and grandchildren can live safely on their land and by their own rules. A hundred years from now, our future generations will celebrate Ukraine’s Independence Day here.”
“We are building a Ukraine strong and powerful enough to live in security and peace. Here, on Independence Square, beneath our flags, our children and grandchildren will celebrate Independence Day in peace, in calm, with confidence in the future, and with gratitude to all those who defended Ukraine. To those who endured, who prevailed, who gained victory. Such a goal is worth living for. And this is what we stand for. Happy holiday to you, great people of a great country! Happy Independence Day! Slava Ukraini! Glory to Ukraine!”
Messages of Global Solidarity
World leaders and international institutions expressed their support and solidarity on the occasion of Ukrainian Independence Day, underscoring the resilience of its people and the universal importance of Ukraine’s struggle for its sovereignty, freedom, and democracy.
U.S. President Donald Trump conveyed his greetings to President Zelenskyy:
“Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the American people, I extend my congratulations and warmest wishes to you and the courageous people of Ukraine as you celebrate 34 years of independence. The people of Ukraine have an unbreakable spirit, and your country’s courage inspires many. As you mark this important day, know the United States respects your fight, honours your sacrifices, and believes in your future as an independent nation. Now is the moment to bring an end to the senseless killing. The United States supports a negotiated settlement that leads to a durable, lasting peace that ends the bloodshed and safeguards Ukraine’s sovereignty and dignity. God bless Ukraine. Sincerely, Donald J. Trump”
President Zelenskyy thanked the message and shared it on X, affirming: “We will not lose.”
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV sent a message of prayer and comfort:
“To His Excellency President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy
With a heart wounded by the violence that ravages your land, I address you on this day of your national feast. I wish to assure you of my prayer for the people of Ukraine who suffer from war – especially for all those wounded in body, for those bereaved by the death of a loved one, and for those deprived of their homes. May God Himself console them; may He strengthen the injured and grant eternal rest to the departed. I implore the Lord to move the hearts of people of good will, that the clamour of arms may fall silent and give way to dialogue, opening the path to peace for the good of all. I entrust your nation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace. His Holiness Pope Leo XIV”
In Brussels, the European Commission illuminated the Berlaymont headquarters in blue and yellow, while NATO Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chairman of the Military Committee, stated:
“Independence is the right of a nation to choose its own path, free from coercion and aggression. Today, we honour the courage of Ukraine’s soldiers and people who fight every day to defend that right – a right violated but never surrendered. Their heroism inspires us all.”
Messages of congratulations and support also arrived from numerous world leaders, posted by President Zelinskyy X, including Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – President of the Republic of Türkiye; Xi Jinping – President of the People’s Republic of China; King Charles III of the United Kingdom; King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands; Carl Gustaf King of Sweden; Felipe VI King of Spain; Mohammed VI King of Morocco; Emmanuel Macron – President of the Republic of France; Narendra Modi – Prime Minister of India; Anthony Albanese – Prime Minister of Australia; António Guterres – United Nations Secretary-General; Mark Rutte – NATO Secretary-General; Karin Keller-Sutter – President of Switzerland; Karol Nawrocki – President of the Republic of Poland; Ilham Aliyev – President of Azerbaijan; Kassym-Jomart Tokayev – President of Kazakhstan; Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa – President of Portugal; Nicusor Dan – President of Romania; Petr Pavel – President of the Czech Republic; Andrej Plenković – Prime Minister of Croatia; Vahagn Khachaturyan – President of the Republic of Armenia; Shavkat Mirziyoyev – President of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Isaac Herzog – President of the State of Israel; Lương Cường – President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Lee Jae Myung – President of the Republic of Korea; Christopher Luxon – Prime Minister of New Zealand;Gordana Siljanovska-Dakova – President of North Macedonia; Bajram Begaj – President of Albania; Serdar Berdimuhamedov – President of Turkmenistan; The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore; Jakov Milatović – President of Montenegro; Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera – President of the Republic of Malawi. These gestures reinforced the international consensus: Ukraine’s struggle for independence is a fight for European and global security.
Ukrainian Independence Day in Budapest: Solidarity, Faith, and Culture
Sharing a 136-kilometer border with Hungary, Ukraine’s history has long been intertwined with its western neighbour. The Transcarpathia region in southern Ukraine has been home to a significant Hungarian community for centuries, while a large Ukrainian diaspora lives in Hungary. In Budapest, Ukraine’s Independence Day was commemorated with prayers and cultural celebrations in cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary.
Symbols in the Hungarian Capital
To mark the 34th anniversary, one of Budapest’s landmarks, the iconic Chain Bridge was again illuminated in blue and yellow – a striking symbol of solidarity.
The Embassy of Ukraine in Budapest expressed gratitude to Mayor Gergely Karácsony and the city administration.
“To stand by Ukraine’s independence is at once our moral duty and a fundamental national interest,” the Mayor stated.
Sunrise Prayer on a Danube Cruise
Ukrainians in Budapest celebrated the anniversary with a moving sunrise prayer on a Danube cruise. Organised by the Ukrainian Nationality Self-Government of Hungary under the leadership of Chair Yevheniya Yedlichka, community spokesperson Liliana Grexa, and the New Wave Association, the event continued a 12-year tradition launched by the Transcarpathian Folk Choir. Participants prayed for peace, freedom, and strength for Ukraine, while Ukrainians from around the world joined online, demonstrating unity and resilience despite the ongoing war in their country. Addressing the gathering, H.E. Fedir Shandor, Ambassador of Ukraine to Hungary, who officially assumed office in March 2025, extended warm greetings and congratulations on this national day.
The Power of Ukrainian Song in Budapest
The Amateur Choir of National Cultural Workers of Khust City brought a repertoire of authentic Ukrainian music to Budapest, performing at Fisherman’s Bastion in Buda Castle and participating in the global prayer for Ukraine held in two city churches. Open-air concerts on Váci Street and Március 15. Square captivated locals and Ukrainian expatriates, with a touching rendition of the national anthem leaving a profound impression.
Faith and Hope for the Future
Ukraine’s Independence Day 2025 stood as a celebration of resilience and hope. The unifying message – echoed by world leaders, clergy, and citizens alike – was clear: Ukraine’s struggle is a fight for universal values of freedom, peace, and human dignity. As one participant in Budapest declared: “Freedom is not a privilege. It is a human right.”
King Andrew I and Queen Anastasia: A Historical Bond Between Kyiv and Hungary
A Thousand-Year Bridge of Kinship
The histories of Hungary and Ukraine are intertwined by a remarkable story of exile, diplomacy, and dynastic marriages that began in the 11th century.
Andrew, a young prince of the Árpád dynasty, was born around 1015 into Hungary’s royal family. Political turmoil forced him and his brother Levente into exile in 1031, leading them to the court of Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise (ruled 1019–1054) in Kyiv, where they spent more than a decade.
In Kyiv Andrew converted to Christianity and adopted the Eastern Orthodox rite, which had been introduced by Prince Vladimir in 988. He received his baptismal name from Saint Andrew the Apostle, whose mission to the Black Sea coast and blessing of Kyiv left a lasting spiritual impact on the city and the Slavic world, venerated as their patron saint.
Around 1037, Prince Andrew married Princess Anastasia, the third daughter of Grand Prince Yaroslav, the Wise, in Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. This union was far more than a personal alliance – it testified to the prestige of Kievan Rus’ in European diplomacy. Scholars record around 15 intermarriages over several centuries between the Árpád dynasty (reigned 1000-1301) and the Rurikid dynasty (Anastasia’s royal family), making the Rurikids among the most frequent foreign partners in Árpád marriage alliances.
The prominence of Grand Prince Yaroslav’s rule is revealed by the marriages of his daughters: Princess Anastasia married a future Hungarian monarch; Princess Anne of Kiev married Henry I of France; Princess Elisiv of Kiev married King Harald III of Norway; and Agatha – possibly Yaroslav’s daughter or the daughter of Saint Stephen I, Hungary’s first king – married Edward the Exile, heir to the English throne. These alliances made Kyiv a pivotal centre of European power and influence.
While in Kyiv, Andrew and Anastasia had three children. Their daughter Adelhaid married the Czech prince (later king) Vlatislav, their son Solomon succeeded his father to the Hungarian throne, and their youngest son, Prince David, became a priest. Andrew also had an illegitimate son, George, who was sent to the English court. These family ties exemplify how dynastic marriages shaped European politics.
In 1046, Andrew returned to the Kingdom of Hungary and ascended the throne with Anastasia as queen. At his coronation in 1047, he received a Byzantine crown from Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos– a gift symbolizing both recognition and strengthened ties with the Byzantine Empire. This Monomachus Crown, preserved in the Hungarian National Museum, is one of only two surviving Byzantine crowns.
Anastasia’s influence extended beyond royal ceremonies. She encouraged the foundation of Orthodox monasteries in Hungary and helped shape Andrew’s diplomatic relations with Kyiv. Historical sources confirm that Kievan Rus’ and Hungary enjoyed exceptionally close and friendly ties during this period.
One of the lasting legacies of their reign is the Benedictine Abbey on the Tihany peninsula, founded in 1055. Queen Anastasia is believed to have chosen its scenic location overlooking Lake Balaton. According to tradition, the stones used for construction were brought from Kyiv, and the first hermits accompanying her arrived from Kievan Rus’. The Abbey became a vital Christian stronghold amidst pagan uprisings.
The cultural influence of Kyiv included Byzantine-rite priests and monks, who settled in Tihany (and also in Visegrád along the Danube). In Tihany they lived in cave dwellings. Known today as friars’ dwellings, these settlements are a living reminder of the religious and cultural exchange between the Hungarian Kingdom and Kievan Rus’.
The Tihany Benedictine Abbey is also celebrated for its Founding Charter, containing the earliest known Hungarian words, although it is largely written in Latin.
King Andrew I and his son Prince David were buried in the crypt of Tihany Abbey in 1060, making it the only medieval Hungarian royal tomb to have survived intact.
In 2001, a white marble statue of King Andrew I and Queen Anastasia was unveiled in Tihany, overlooking Lake Balaton, near the Abbey. The statue was funded by the Ukrainian Nationality Self-Government of Hungary and Tihany’s municipality and inaugurated by Ukrainian and Hungarian officials. Its inscription in Hungarian and Ukrainian reads: “Andrew, King of Hungary, and Anastasia, Queen of Hungary (daughter of the Grand Prince of Kyiv).”
The story of King Andrew I and Queen Anastasia is more than just a marriage tale – it is a chronicle of faith, diplomacy and friendship, illustrating how personal and dynastic decisions shaped the histories of the two nations and left a shared legacy that endures to this day.
Source: www.president.gov.ua, Embassy of Ukraine in Budapest
Photos by the Embassy of Ukraine in Budapest Facebook, President Zelenskyy X, the Mayor of Budapest, www.tihanyiapatsag.hu , www.tihanyprogramok.hu
