On August 24, Ukraine marks the 34th anniversary of its declaration of independence.
For Ukrainians, this day is not only the rebirth of their state, but above all, the restoration of historical justice and a return to their roots that stretch deep into the centuries.
What is Ukraine?
It is the largest country in Europe entirely located on the European continent. It is a land where ancient traditions intertwine with modern technologies.
Its national emblem, the trident of Prince Volodymyr the Great, dates back to the 10th century, while its currency, the hryvnia, carries a name rooted in the era of Kyivan Rus. This alone testifies to a millennium of unbroken statehood.
Mentions of today’s Ukrainian lands appear even in antiquity: the Greeks called these lands “Scythia.”
Herodotus described the Scythians as fierce and courageous horsemen, and the philosopher Anacharsis became famous among the Seven Sages of Greece.
Later, the first Slavic state formations emerged here, most notably the Kyivan principality, traditionally founded by the noble siblings Kyi, Shchek, Khoryv, and their sister Lybid from the Slavic tribe of Polians.
From Kyiv, in the 9th century, grew the powerful state of Kyivan Rus, stretching from the Black Sea to the Baltic. Its rulers – Volodymyr the Great and Yaroslav the Wise – not only consolidated Christianity but also integrated Rus into European civilization.
Yaroslav was even called “the father-in-law of Europe,” as his daughters became queens of France, Hungary, Norway, and Sweden.
The Mongol invasion of the 13th century devastated Kyiv, but the identity of Ukrainian lands survived. King Danylo of Halych received a crown from the Pope and founded the Halych-Volhynian Kingdom, inheritor of Kyivan traditions.
His successors introduced European municipal rights, guilds, and legal codes. Even as neighboring empires divided Ukrainian lands, the people preserved their culture and their yearning for freedom.
The 16th century brought forth the Cossacks – a unique phenomenon of free warriors and defenders.
The Zaporizhian Cossacks became a symbol of liberty, military skill, and self-governance. They laid the foundations of military traditions that continue today in Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
Despite partitions between Austria and Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries, Ukrainians safeguarded their cultural identity. The 19th century became the era of national awakening, led by poets and thinkers such as Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Franko, and Lesia Ukrainka, who inspired their people to fight for freedom. As with many other nations – including Egypt – culture, language, and historical memory formed the bedrock of political revival.
From the 20th Century to the Restoration of Independence
At the dawn of the 20th century, as old empires crumbled, Ukrainians once again sought their own statehood.
In 1917, the Ukrainian Central Rada emerged, soon proclaiming the Ukrainian People’s Republic. On January 22, 1918, the world first heard Ukraine’s declaration of independence.
Yet within three years, that fledgling state was crushed by Bolshevik aggression and partitioned once more.
Thus, for Ukrainians, 1991 meant not the “creation,” but the “restoration” of independence. The Soviet era brought terrible trials.
In 1932–1933, Moscow orchestrated the Holodomor – a genocide by famine that deliberately starved millions to death to break the Ukrainian spirit.
At the same time, the 1930s witnessed the liquidation of an entire generation of Ukrainian intellectuals in the “Executed Renaissance.”
World War II turned Ukraine into a battlefield of colossal clashes. Front lines ran across its soil, partisans fought in its forests, and Ukrainians served in armies of the anti-Hitler coalition.
More than eight million Ukrainians perished, yet their sacrifice contributed significantly to victory over Nazism.
In the 1960s and 70s, a dissident movement arose – intellectuals who openly opposed Soviet tyranny. They paid with imprisonment, exile, and labor camps, but their courage prepared the ground for future freedom. The late 1980s brought a wave of democratic revolutions across Central and Eastern Europe.
The Soviet Union trembled, and on August 24, 1991, Ukraine’s parliament adopted the Act of Independence. On December 1, more than 90% of citizens confirmed this choice in a referendum. Modern independent Ukraine was reborn.
The Challenges of Independence: Revolutions and Wars
The road of free Ukraine has never been easy. Time and again, the people had to defend their right to liberty:
* In 1990, students staged the “Revolution on Granite,” the first mass protest against Soviet rule.
* In 2004, the Orange Revolution defended fair elections.
* In 2013–2014, the Revolution of Dignity saw Ukrainians flood Kyiv’s Maidan to safeguard their European path and their right to a decent life. The price was high – over one hundred lives of the “Heavenly Hundred.”
But it was then that Ukraine cemented its civilizational choice to belong to the European community.
Immediately after, Russia unleashed its aggression – annexing Crimea in 2014 and igniting war in Donbas. On February 24, 2022, the full-scale invasion began, now grinding on for over three years.
Ukraine faces an enemy far superior in numbers and weapons, yet the courage of Ukrainians has inspired the world.
Cities like Mariupol, Bakhmut, and Avdiivka have entered history as strongholds of extraordinary resistance.
From Bucha to Izium, Russia committed atrocities and war crimes, but Ukrainians did not break – they grew stronger in their resolve.
Ukraine’s army today is the heir of Scythian archers, princely warriors, Cossacks, and partisans.
It has liberated vast territories, shattered Russia’s dominance in the Black Sea, and in 2024 carried the war onto Russian soil itself, including in the Kursk region. Ukraine has shown the world that even the most powerful aggressor can be stopped.
The Global Dimension: Ukraine’s Struggle and Food Security
Russia’s war against Ukraine has long transcended the borders of two countries.
It is not only an attempt to destroy Ukrainian statehood but a challenge to the entire international order built on sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Kremlin’s aim was to unravel global security, sow chaos in the economy, and weaponize food and energy.
Ukraine’s fight has become the barrier preventing aggression from spreading to Europe, the Caucasus, and the Middle East.
Ukraine stands as the outpost of freedom in the heart of Europe, and its struggle carries global significance. By defending its own independence, Ukrainians safeguard all nations from Russian expansionism.
From the outset, Russia sought to use food as a weapon: blockading Black Sea ports, bombing grain infrastructure, and disrupting supplies to countries dependent on Ukrainian bread. The consequences were felt most acutely in Africa and the Middle East.
Ukraine’s answer was the “Grain from Ukraine” initiative, launched in November 2022 by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Through it, more than 307,000 tons of grain have already reached 15 countries – from Somalia and Sudan to Yemen, Syria, and Palestine – helping save nearly 20 million people from famine.
Ukraine and Egypt: A Shared Vision and Historic Experience
Today, Ukraine and Egypt share a vision of fundamental principles in international relations: security, sovereignty, and the inviolability of borders. Both nations value freedom and independence. Both know the cost of defending every inch of their land. Just as Ukrainians fight today to reclaim occupied territories, Egypt once fought to restore Sinai.
Again, food security is yet another shared priority in bilateral relations. In the past year alone, Ukraine exported nearly 5 million tons of grain to Egypt, bolstering the country’s food stability.
Tourism remains another key dimension: in 2021, around 1.45 million Ukrainians visited Egypt. The Russian invasion caused a dramatic drop to just 200,000 in 2022.
Yet recovery is underway – between January 2023 and December 2024, some 540,000 Ukrainians chose Egypt as their holiday destination. This steady growth shows vast future prospects, especially once peace is restored and direct flights resume. The historic record of 1.6 million Ukrainian tourists in 2019 underscores that potential.
But beyond trade and tourism, the deepest link is shared historical experience.
Egyptians, like Ukrainians, love their homeland and know the meaning of struggle. They understand that Ukraine’s war is not only a Ukrainian tragedy but a global challenge.
A strong and independent Ukraine is in the shared interest of the civilized world, including Egypt, for it ensures stability, secure trade routes, and confidence in food supplies.
Today, Ukraine stands at the frontline of the battle for freedom, justice, and international law. Its independence is an undeniable historical fact, rooted in centuries of statehood, culture, and resilience. Ukrainians are fighting not only for their own right to exist but for the safety of all nations.
Ukraine’s successful resistance guarantees that tomorrow the aggressor will not invade other homes or bring chaos to other lands. Supporting Ukraine is therefore not only an act of solidarity, but a strategic necessity for all who seek a world of peace, justice, and cooperation.
A strong Ukraine means a stronger world. An independent Ukraine is a cornerstone of global stability.
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