You are true hero of America, you are true hero of Ukraine - President bidding farewell to U.S. Senator McCain
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko took part in the farewell ceremony for United States Senator John McCain in Washington.
"Senator, we are very grateful to you. And that is why, now, expressing the thoughts and sympathy of the great 45 million people, I am here today," the presidential press service quoted the president as saying after the ceremony.
Poroshenko noted that on this sad day he, as President of Ukraine and as friend of Senator McCain, was supposed to be at the ceremony "in order to pay tribute and respect to my friend and a great friend of Ukraine, a true American and a true fighter for the ideals of democracy and freedom."
The president especially noted that Senator McCain was together with Ukraine and Ukrainians in the critical moments of our history.
"We all remember him on Maidan during the Revolution of Dignity, when at a temperature of minus 26 degrees he went undressed, turned to hundreds of thousands of people who stood on Maidan in order to express the necessary words of support. That the whole world and the United States of America are together with Ukrainians. And when it was necessary to consolidate the world during the Munich Security Forum - he was the leader and helped us," the head of state noted.
Poroshenko also recalled one of his last meetings with the Senator, when they, together with John McCain, decided to visit the Ukrainian marines who were holding the line in Shyrokyne district.
"Ten kilometers away from the area, the Security Service informed me that the artillery shelling started in the area we were driving to. I told the Senator that I, as President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief, must be there, but I am concerned about the security of the Senator and Americans. I asked him not to go. And I remembered his words forever: "In the most difficult and most dangerous times of your history, Mr. President, I am with you."
"Thank you once again. You are a true hero of America, but you are also a true hero of Ukraine. Thank you," the president said.