By Mykola Dzhydzhora
Chargé d’Affaires
Embassy of Ukraine, State of Kuwait
On August 24, the Ukrainian people celebrate one of the most significant milestones in their history – the Independence Day of Ukraine.
It is a symbol of statehood, a day of profound pride in national unity, and faith in a free, safe, and peaceful future.
Today, more than ever, the concept of independence has a global dimension. For over three years, Ukraine has been defending its land in the face of an armed aggression. Ukraine is not only defending itself, but also defending the international law including sovereignty, respect for borders, and the right to self-determination.
On this day, we would like to express our deep gratitude to the support extended to Ukraine by international partners in humanitarian, diplomatic, technical, and economic fields.
We would like to avail of this opportunity to offer special thanks and gratitude to the friendly State of Kuwait for its consistent humanitarian support and for upholding Ukraine’s territorial integrity in international organizations.
The Ukrainian people have endured since February 2022 immense challenges as a direct consequence of the war, the most important of which are the safety of its civilians and the protection of critical infrastructure including energy.
Despite the fact that over 50% of Ukraine’s energy capacity has been destroyed or damaged, Ukraine has managed to restore around 6 GW of capacity. The focus is now on renewable energy, energy storage systems, and mobile generation, which is a strategic response to the weaponization of energy.
On August 15, important negotiations were held in Washington between the Ukrainian President along with some European leaders and President Trump. Security guarantees were at the center of the talks – a key issue that marks a possible starting point towards ending the war.
A great deal of attention was also devoted to the return of Ukrainian children, the release of prisoners of war and the return of unlawfully held civilians. Since the start of the war, over 6,400 Ukrainians have been freed, mostly through official exchanges. According to the UN, 95% of those held were subjected to torture — an unacceptable violation of human rights.
Despite the hardships, Ukraine remains one of the world’s key contributors to global food security, supplying agricultural products to more than 100 countries that feed over 400 million people.
The Ukrainian maritime corridor ensures the continuous export of agricultural goods to 53 countries across four continents – Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America – despite ongoing attacks on port infrastructure, grain storage facilities, and merchant vessels.
These threats risk triggering food crises in countries dependent on Ukrainian grain. On November 26, 2022, President Zelensky launched the humanitarian initiative “Grain from Ukraine.”
As of mid-2025, the program’s funding reached USD 364 million. To date, 307,000 tonnes of agricultural goods have been delivered to 15 countries in Africa and the Middle East including Syria, Palestine, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. In December 2024, Ukraine launched the “Food from Ukraine” program specifically for Syria. Already, 3,950 tonnes of wheat flour have been delivered, and supplies continue.
Ukraine is not only fighting – it is planning. In energy, infrastructure, food security, and digitalization, Ukraine is actively seeking international partnerships.
In conclusion, Ukraine is not only a country that defends itself – it also defends a future that will be free, secure, humane, and just for the whole world.
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