Trump Urges ‘Durable, Lasting Peace’ in Ukraine Independence Day Letter

US President Donald Trump congratulated Ukraine on the 35th anniversary of the restoration of its independence, saying Washington remains confident in the country’s future as a sovereign and prosperous nation, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday, Aug. 25.Zelensky published Trump’s letter on X, saying he had received “warm and heartening congratulations” from the US president.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“On behalf of the American people, I congratulate you and the citizens of Ukraine on your Independence Day,” Trump wrote.Trump praised Ukraine’s resilience and said the United States “stands in admiration” of its people and “honors your sacrifices.”He also called for an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine and urged the two countries to work toward a lasting peace.“Let us seize this moment to end the conflict and build a durable, lasting peace that unleashes the tremendous potential of Ukraine for generations to come,” Trump wrote.Trump also highlighted the longstanding relationship between the two countries, noting that the occasion marked 35 years of diplomatic relations.Zelensky thanked Trump and the American people for their support, adding that the president’s words gave Ukrainians hope that lives could be protected from Russian attacks and that a dignified peace could be achieved.“These words, much like the sound of a Patriot PAC-3 launch, lift our spirits,” Zelensky said. Other Topics of Interest Ukrainian Basketball Player Leaves LSU After Tigers Sign Russian Athlete LSU head coach Kim Mulkey announced Koval’s departure on Monday, saying the 6-foot-5 center was leaving the program for “personal reasons.” On Monday, Zelensky also marked Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day, vowing the country will continue defending its sovereignty. He also presented state awards to soldiers, civilians, and the families of fallen defenders.The Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine was adopted by parliament in 1991, following the failed Soviet coup – also known as the “August Coup.” During the short-lived attempt to seize power, Communist Party officials placed then-President Mikhail Gorbachev under house arrest.“There is no doubt about it,” Zelensky said in a statement. “Ukrainians will not submit to what they do not believe in, and they certainly will not abandon their dream – the dream of living, the dream of living independently.”His remarks came as 10 Ukrainian servicemen, who had been listed as missing in action, returned home via Belarus earlier that day.In addition, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv on Monday for his first official visit to Ukraine as the country celebrated its independence, while the UK government agreed to permit defense company MBDA to declassify information on British components used in Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles.The decision follows the UK’s 2023 delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.