Zelenskyy sends thanks to royals

As Ukraine marked its Independence Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received cables of well-wishes from heads of state, including royals, from around the world.

The President then sent messages of thanks on his Instagram account to the foreign leaders.

To King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, he said: “I am grateful to His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, to Sweden and to the Swedish people for their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine. We highly value Sweden’s substantial military, humanitarian, and financial assistance, all of which helps save Ukrainian lives. This steadfast partnership strengthens both our nations and contributes to the security of the whole of Europe.”

Thanking King Felipe of Spain, the Ukrainian leader wrote: “My sincere gratitude to His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain for his warm wishes on Ukraine’s Independence Day. We appreciate your unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale aggression. We thank the government and people of Spain for their solidarity and comprehensive assistance to Ukraine. I am confident that Ukraine and Spain, together with our partners, will restore respect for international law and bring peace and security back to Europe.”

The Prince of Wales meeting President Zelenskyy at the event marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in June 2024. Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

To King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, the President said: “My sincere gratitude to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands for his warm wishes on Ukraine’s Independence Day. We deeply appreciate the Royal Family’s attention to the Ukrainian people, as well as all of the support we have received from the Netherlands and the entire Dutch people. Together, we are defending our shared values of freedom, independence, and justice.”

King Charles also received a public thanks with Zelenskyy stating: “I am grateful to His Majesty King Charles III for his cordial wishes to all Ukrainians on our Independence Day. His Majesty’s kind words are a true inspiration for our people during the difficult time of war. We appreciate the United Kingdom’s leadership in supporting Ukraine and our just cause: to defend freedom from tyranny and ensure a lasting peace in Ukraine and throughout Europe.”

King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess Amalia of the Netherlands with President Zelenskyy. By Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken – Q103204, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Zelenskyy showed gratitude to Morocco’s King Mohammed: “I thank His Majesty Mohammed VI for the cordial wishes for the safety and security of the Ukrainian people. This is what Ukraine needs most at this time. I concur—deepening our cooperation is in the interest of both our nations’ well-being.”

He also thanked Emperor Naruhito of Japan, writing, “I am deeply grateful to His Majesty the Emperor for the heartfelt greetings on our Independence Day. Ukraine treasures its relations with Japan, built on mutual respect and shared values, and we are confident they will continue to grow stronger for the well-being of our peoples and the stability of the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and beyond.”