Ukraine marks 35 years of independence as US marks 250
Ukraine is celebrating 35 years of independence this year while the United States marks its 250th anniversary, two milestones separated by centuries but linked by a shared idea about citizenship.
This year brings two independence anniversaries of very different scale on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Ukraine marks 35 years since regaining its independence, while the United States marks 250 years since its founding. More than two centuries separate the two dates, and the historical paths of the two nations have been profoundly different.
A shared idea across different histories
Despite the gap in time and circumstance, the two anniversaries are tied together by one central idea: people are citizens with the power to shape their own future, rather than subjects whose fate is decided by someone else's will. This principle is presented as a value that bridges vastly different eras and continents.
The anniversaries are framed within the understanding that independence and self-determination are not single, one-time events, but an ongoing process rooted in citizens' awareness of their role in shaping their nation's destiny. This applies equally to a younger state like Ukraine and to an older democracy like the United States.
The examples of both countries are used to underline the broader, universal meaning of independence — regardless of how many years a state has existed, the choices and participation of its citizens remain the decisive factor in its future.
