On August 24, 2024, Ukraine celebrates its 33rd Independence Day. This milestone marks the day Ukrainians regained their statehood and embarked on the path to building a democratic, European nation. However, this year’s celebration is overshadowed by the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion, with Ukrainians defending their homeland with arms in hand.
While commemorating the adoption of the Act of Declaration of Independence in 1991, Ukrainians reflect on their long history of statehood, which dates back over a millennium. The city of Kyiv, founded in 482 CE, became the center of Kyivska Rus from the late 9th to mid-13th century, successfully integrating into the pan-European cultural space. This tradition of statehood continued through various incarnations, including the Principality of Galicia-Volyn (12th-14th centuries), the Ukrainian Cossack State (17th-18th centuries), and several 20th-century entities, culminating in modern independent Ukraine.
Throughout the centuries, the desire for freedom and sovereignty has been a core value for Ukrainians, who have never ceased their struggle for statehood. This pursuit, however, came at a tremendous cost. Under the Russian Empire and later Soviet occupation, millions of Ukrainians endured suppression of their national identity, mass terror, genocide, and repression. The artificial famine known as Holodomor, or “hunger plague,” claimed at least 7 million lives in 1932-33. In May 1944, the Crimean Tatars, an indigenous Sunni Muslim people of Crimea, faced forced deportation. Today, Crimean Tatars in Russian-occupied Crimea once again endure politically motivated persecutions and violations of their cultural and religious rights.
Ukraine finally achieved independence in August 1991, but challenges persisted. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and subsequent hybrid aggression in eastern Ukraine precipitated a major international crisis, jeopardizing the rules-based world order.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine, aiming to seize Ukrainian territory and destroy the Ukrainian nation. Invoking the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Ukraine wages a defensive war. The bravery and sacrifice of Ukrainians have inspired the world, with national unity and determination stronger than ever in this existential struggle.
The international community continues to support Ukraine in its fight to liberate occupied lands and restore sovereignty and territorial integrity. Key elements for victory include non-recognition of forceful changes to the legal status of temporarily occupied territories (including Crimea), consolidation of international efforts, provision of assistance, and implementation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula.
While at war, Ukrainians dream of peace — a true peace that will come when Ukraine’s territorial integrity is reinstated within its internationally recognized borders, all captured Ukrainian citizens are returned home, and justice is achieved.
President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula remains the only realistic and comprehensive plan to ensure a just and lasting peace based on UN Charter principles. The First Peace Summit, held in Switzerland in June 2024, was a significant success, with 100 delegations from all continents participating. The summit addressed three global challenges: nuclear safety, food security, and the release of prisoners and deportees, including children.
Work continues at the adviser and ministerial levels to present an action plan for peace at the Second Peace Summit later this year. The support of peace-loving nations like Pakistan is crucial for the Peace Formula’s success, and Ukraine looks forward to the participation of Global South countries in its implementation.
Ukraine and Pakistan enjoy traditionally friendly, mutually beneficial relations, with active engagement in political, military, technical, trade, and humanitarian domains. The official visit of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to Islamabad in July 2023 reinvigorated ties between the two nations.
As natural partners, Ukraine and Pakistan have a long history of mutual support. Ukrainian specialists contributed to Pakistan’s key industries in the 1960s-70s, including the construction of Pakistan Steel Mills in Karachi and hydroelectric plants in Tarbela and Kalabagh. In the 1990s, Ukraine helped bolster Pakistan’s defense capabilities, supplying T-80UD tanks and contributing to the development of Pakistan’s national tank program.
During the 2020 “grain crisis,” Ukrainian traders covered two-thirds of Pakistan’s grain deficit. Ukraine also provided humanitarian aid to Pakistan following natural disasters, while Pakistan reciprocated with aid to Ukraine in 2022 after the Russian invasion.
Pakistan is an important trade partner for Ukraine in South Asia. In 2021, the total trade volume between the two countries reached $757.179 million, an 82.2% increase from 2020. In 2023, Pakistan ranked 53rd among Ukraine’s global trade partners and 12th in the Asia-Pacific region, with bilateral trade reaching $613.2 million.
Despite ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian logistics facilities, Ukraine has significantly increased its food exports to Pakistan. In the 2023-24 marketing season, Ukraine exported 815,000 tons of wheat worth $143 million to Pakistan.
The cooperation between Ukraine and Pakistan is based on shared values, including a desire for justice, belief in dialogue, and respect for human dignity. Ukraine has made significant contributions to combating Islamophobia through legislation and initiatives protecting Muslim communities’ rights and freedoms. In July 2023, Ukraine supported a UN Human Rights Council resolution on countering religious hatred, tabled by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
In June 2024, Ukraine supported Pakistan’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2025-26, confident in Pakistan’s ability to contribute to addressing major threats to international peace and security, particularly the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
The high level of mutual understanding and dynamic interaction in military-technical, trade, and economic domains provides a solid foundation for further cooperation between Ukraine and Pakistan. Ukraine remains committed to constructive dialogue and fruitful collaboration with Pakistan on all issues of mutual interest, looking forward to continuing the partnership and achieving shared goals.
