Ukraine marks 35 years of independence as Zelenskyy thanks Poland for wartime support

Ukraine celebrated the 35th anniversary of its independence Monday, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanking Poland and other allies for backing Kyiv since Russia's full-scale invasion began.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Horodetskyi House in Kyiv, Ukraine, August 24, 2026.

HENRY NICHOLLS/Pool via REUTERS

The former Soviet republic declared statehood on Aug. 24, 1991, when Kyiv's Supreme Council adopted its Act of Independence.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk marked the occasion with a message of solidarity on X, invoking a historic rallying cry shared by the two nations. "We, [...] Poles, know well what it means to pay the highest price for independence", he wrote, adding that Poland "stands firmly with the fighting People of Ukraine".

Zelenskyy responded with thanks, saying Poles had stood by Ukraine "since the first days of Russia's full-scale aggression". He said the phrase "For your freedom and ours" had taken on renewed significance as Ukraine fights for its survival, and pledged: "Together, we shall prevail over our age-old enemy and protect our shared security". He also thanked other foreign leaders who sent independence day greetings.

Thank you, dear @donaldtusk, for your warm Independence Day congratulations and continued solidarity with Ukraine.

We are grateful to Poland and to the entire Polish people for standing with Ukraine and Ukrainians since the first days of Russia’s full-scale aggression.

Today,… https://t.co/hC1S7z6K4Z

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 25, 2026

The anniversary coincided with a Kyiv meeting of the "coalition of the willing", a group of nations coordinating support for Ukraine. Poland's delegation was led remotely by Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.

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Source: Polish Radio