President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in his New Year's greetings to the Ukrainian people has said that Ukrainians have become "not only older, but also wiser and stronger."

"We withstood and saved the country. Not only older did we become, but also wiser and stronger. And what is the most important - we became more united as a nation, Ukrainian nation," reads Poroshenko's statement posted on social networks.

According to the president, "strongly as never before do we feel the shoulder, heartbeat and even way of thinking of one another. Peace, freedom and independence, welfare and unity are the main aspirations of every Ukrainian."

"Let us first of all bow to glorious Ukrainian warriors for making today's holiday come true. To those who are currently not at the festive table, but in the cold winter trench. To those who are now standing with guns, not wine glasses," the head of state said.

"If we prevent full-scale offensive of Russia with joint efforts of our Armed Forces, volunteers, workers of defensive enterprises, diplomats and international partners, if we do not let the external enemy undermine our stability from inside with political strife, next year we will be able to say that the worst is behind," Poroshenko said.