Starting his speech at the celebrations marking the 29th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed the hope that the agreement reached on the introduction of a full and comprehensive ceasefire in Donbas will be transformed into a full-fledged peace.

Before the President's speech, the National Anthem of Ukraine and 10 festive volleys were played. The ceremonial group of soldiers of the company of the guard of honor raised the State flag of Ukraine, the Office of the Head of State notes.

“Today, on the 29th day of the truce, on the 29th anniversary of independence, we all ask God for only one thing - let the days of silence become months. Months - years. Years - centuries and then millennia. Peace, harmony and prosperity to the Ukrainian land "

Volodymyr Zelenskyy recalled how, during his first presidential speech at the celebrations on the occasion of Independence Day a year ago, he said that his every morning begins with an SMS message from the General Staff of Ukraine about the number of wounded and killed on the front lines over the past day.

“The numbers are different, and only one message makes the morning good. Injured - zero. The number of fatalities is zero, ”the Head of State noted.

“Today, for the 29th day in a row, I and all of our Ukraine have a really good morning. Yes, we face many new challenges. But today - 29 days, as in the east of Ukraine we have no combat losses, ”the President emphasized, recalling that today is the 29th day since the last agreement on mutual ceasefire began to operate.

“29 days since Ukrainian cities and villages don’t bury their heroes. 29 days since mothers don't cry. 29 days, as wives and children hear in the telephone receiver: “I kiss you, my relatives. I'll be back home soon, ”added the Head of State.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that during his last working trip to the east of Ukraine he spoke with local residents and asked if they knew about the ceasefire agreement..

“I asked the locals if they had heard the news that we had agreed on 'silence'. They answered: “We hear not news - we hear silence,” the President summed up.