US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made a statement, congratulating Ukraine on Independence Day.

As the US Department of State states, Blinken said August 24 is "a testament to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and democracy and a day of pride in Ukraine’s strength and resilience", as well as a day of "celebration of Ukrainian heritage and culture".

"Today also marks one and a half years since the Kremlin launched its brutal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine – 18 months of senseless aggression, causing death and destruction across Ukraine."

"As we join you in celebrating more than three decades as an independent country, we also mourn with you remembering your sons and daughters who have given their lives in defence of your country. We stand by you in the fight for your beloved country," Blinken emphasised.

Blinken noted that Ukraine will win "because of" the resilience of Ukrainians, and Russia "will pay a high price for what it has done".

"The United States will continue to stand with you and work with our Allies and partners to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself, to recover, and to thrive," Blinken added.

In July, the US Secretary of State said Russia "has already lost the war" in Ukraine, given the goals that Russia set for itself at the beginning of the full-scale invasion such as "to erase Ukraine from the map, to eliminate its independence, its sovereignty, to subsume it into Russia".

Blinken stressed that, unlike the Russians, "Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their future, for their country, for their freedom".