Ukraine will defend its freedom and independence but it aspires for peace, the country's president, Petro Poroshenko, has said at the Shevchenko award ceremony at the Taras Shevchenko museum in Kyiv on Monday.
"Ukraine needs peace like air. We are a peaceful nation, but we will defend our state, our independence, freedom and democracy. But we are aspiring for peace," the head of state said.
Unity is Ukraine's most valuable achievement, he also said.
On March 9 Ukraine celebrates the 201st birthday anniversary of Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko.
