President Trump sent a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day, expressing that Americans support Ukraine’s future and acknowledge the sacrifices made by its people.
“Dear President, on behalf of the American people, I want to convey my warmest congratulations to you and the courageous people of Ukraine as you celebrate 34 years of independence,” Trump wrote in a letter that Zelensky shared on social media. This letter was posted early Sunday.
“The spirit of the Ukrainian people is unbreakable, and your nation’s courage serves as an inspiration to many. As you celebrate this significant day, I want you to know that the United States stands by your struggle, honors your sacrifice, and believes in your future as a sovereign nation,” Trump continued.
This correspondence comes at a time when Trump is seeking to push for peace talks to end the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He met with Zelensky and European leaders on Monday, just three days after Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted him for a high-profile summit in Alaska.
While Trump left that meeting feeling optimistic about the potential for peace negotiations, Russian officials indicated that momentum was stalling and a meeting between Zelensky and Putin wasn’t on the immediate horizon.
In his letter to Zelensky, Trump again emphasized his wish to see the war come to an end.
“Now is the moment to stop the senseless violence. The United States stands ready to support a negotiated resolution that results in a lasting peace and safeguards Ukraine’s sovereignty and dignity,” he stated. “May God bless Ukraine.”
Ukrainian leaders expressed their gratitude toward Trump, saying, “Happy Independence Day to Ukraine,” and appreciated the support from America.
“We thank you for your heartfelt words to the people of Ukraine, and we are grateful to the United States for standing by us as we defend our most cherished values: Independence, Freedom, and Peace,” they added. “We believe that through our collaboration, we can bring an end to this war and achieve genuine peace in Ukraine.”
The White House did not respond immediately to requests for further comments.
