PM Modi thanks Zelenskyy for Independence Day wishes, hails 'joint commitment' for closer ties with Ukraine

PM Modi with Zelenskyy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his Independence Day wishes for India and appreciated the joint commitment that the countries have for closer India-Ukraine ties.

"Thank you President Zelenskyy for your warm greetings. I deeply value the joint commitment to forging even closer ties between India and Ukraine. We earnestly wish our friends in Ukraine a future marked by peace, progress and prosperity," PM Modi wrote on X.

He was replying to Zelenskyy's wish that came on Friday. "Congratulations to the people of India, President @rashtrapatibhvn, and Prime Minister @narendramodi on the Independence Day!" Zelenskyy wrote on X.

"This week we had a good, candid conversation with Prime Minister @narendramodi

when I had an opportunity to personally convey my best wishes on this occasion. Our nations share the experience of standing up for freedom and dignity, as well as the pursuit of peace and development," he added.

"We hope that India will contribute to efforts aimed at ending the war, so that our freedom and sovereignty are truly secure. I am confident that the potential for mutually beneficial Ukraine–India cooperation lies ahead — in science, technology, trade, and culture. Wishing peace and prosperity!" the X post further said.

PM Modi's reply to Zelenskyy's wish came hours after US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska on Friday. After meeting Putin, Trump will be hosting Zelenskyy in Washington on Monday.

Zelenskyy told reporters that he had a “long, meaningful” phone call with Trump, after the U.S. president’s meeting with Putin produced no agreement to end the war in Ukraine.

The Alaska talks marked Putin’s first visit to Western soil since the 2022 invasion; however, they ended without a breakthrough.