"I wish you to proudly carry the banner of freedom!" - The Head of the OCU congratulates Americans on Independence Day

"Today, our friends and partners in the United States of America celebrate their Independence Day. This is a great day, a day of freedom, a day of dignity," he wrote on Facebook.

"We, Ukrainians, can fully appreciate its importance, for throughout history, we have had to fight for our independence and freedom with various instruments: politics, law, and, unfortunately, (just as in the last ten years), with arms. We are well aware of the price of freedom, and we are glad that our friends and partners value human dignity, independence, and freedom as much as we do.

I sincerely congratulate the people of the United States of America on the 248th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. I wish you to proudly carry the banner of freedom and set an example to others."