President Petro Poroshenko has said Ukrainians and Ukrainian officials over the past three years have had to overcome many complicated obstacles. He said the Kremlin's short term goal is destabilizing Ukraine internally, with the long term goal of drawing Ukraine back into Russia's sphere of influence, something which is unacceptable.

"Dear compatriots, citizens of Ukraine, three years ago, a few hundred brave girls and boys gathered on Euro-Maidan without any politicians to express peaceful protest against the actions of Yanukovych’s regime that stole their great European dream. Then, savage beating of youth by the Berkut riot police stirred up the whole country. In few days, millions of Ukrainians came to the streets and squares. They came to disrupt the plan to bring Ukraine back into the Russian Empire, to demonstrate their pro-European choice," Poroshenko said, marking the Day of Dignity and Freedom, in a written address posted on the president's website.

Poroshenko said, "Per aspera ad astra. The path towards stars goes through the thorns - this is a well-known eloquent expression. However, in November 2013, nobody could have imagined difficult challenges fate has prepared for us… And the high price we’ve had to pay for such values like freedom, dignity and independence," the president said.

Ukraine's head of state almost nothing remained after the victory over the old regime [led by former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia in February 2014]: "After the victory over the regime, it turned out that only the steering wheel was left of all the state machinery. And it was rotten. Ukraine was being choked by default, which seemed inevitable. Economy hasn’t yet recovered from global crisis. Russia hasn’t only unleashed war, but also organized true commercial blockade inflicting losses in the amount of hundreds of billions of dollars for Ukraine. There have been virtually no army and special forces. This is how deep our bottom was, from which we have started to ascend."

Poroshenko said that immediately after the Revolution of Dignity the best and bravest anti-Yanukovych protesters went to the front lines [in eastern Ukraine].

"The first volunteer battalions have inscribed themselves in pages of our military history with their blood shed for our country. And this year, we have allowed ourselves to abandon another wave of mobilization, transfer demobilized warriors to the reserve and sign contracts with dozens of thousands of volunteers. This is a striking evidence of progress in the enhancement of defense capacity of our state. The army was equipped and well-fed. It is professional and armed. Not with the state-of-the-art equipment, but enough to deter Russia"

The head of state also spoke about the state of Ukraine's economy.

"To avoid default and disaster in the economy, the Government had no other choice than to resort to strict and unpopular measures. The same standard measures taken by successful neighbors from Central and Eastern Europe already in the beginning of the 1990s," Poroshenko said, noting that the assistance of the International Monetary Fund [IMF] was of crucial importance.

"The IMF support remains vital for us. And the Fund never prescribes sweet drugs. So I understand that we have unwittingly hurt millions of families. It is not a sin to apologize for that. But I am sure that soon the effectiveness of measures taken will be experienced by more and more people. Our economic organism has already been discharged from intensive care and demonstrates signs of recovery. After 14 quarters of decline, which, by the way, began a year before the revolution and the war, the economy has finally resumed growth," Ukraine's head of state said.

According to Poroshenko, business activity in the country has picked up, thanks to steps taken to "bring business out of the 'shadow economy' and increase budget revenues." He said steps had been taken to enable Ukraine to increase salaries for teachers, doctors and other state employees, as well as to help the poorest segments of society "by doubling the minimum wage to UAH 3,200 in early 2017."

Poroshenko said additional steps are needed to firm up the country's economic recovery.

According to Poroshenko, Russia is seeking to destabilize Ukraine internally by forcing early [parliamentary] elections and by strengthening the position of pro-Russian forces in the new parliament. In addition, the Kremlin seeks to revise Ukraine's pro-European course and return the country to Russia's imperial stabiles.

"If we go the path of acute internal conflicts, we can quickly throw the country into the abyss of chaos and disorder and make it insecure from external aggression. As President, I will not allow such a scenario," Poroshenko said.

The head of state urged Ukrainians not to be led astray.

"People have reasons to be disappointed and every free citizen in free Ukraine has an integral right to protest. Democracy and freedom of speech have become apparent achievements of the Revolution of Dignity. War and crisis prevented us from addressing social issues, but the government and Ukrainian authorities now have an opportunity to address them.

Poroshenko said his talks with EU leaders and institutions provide grounds to predict that a mutually acceptable compromise between Ukraine, the EU and the Netherlands will be found and the Association and FTA Agreement will be ratified.

"We are moving in the right direction and towards right goals. But the path towards stars of Europe, just as anyone else, goes through the thorns - рer aspera ad astra. That is why it is so difficult on the road. That is why mistakes in solving complicated problems are inevitable," Poroshenko said.

The Ukrainian president ended his address invoking former Czech President Vaclav Havel, who once said governments, parliaments, presidents, even the best in the world, were unable to do anything by themselves, because freedom and democracy provided for the participation of all.

"So, thank you, dear Ukrainians. We are building together our European country! I congratulate all of you on the Day of Dignity and Freedom. Glory to Ukraine!" Poroshenko said.