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Xi Jinping Sends First Independence Day Message to Ukraine, Breaking 2-Year Silence With Zelenskyy
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Chinese leader Xi Jinping had sent him a congratulatory note on the occasion of Ukraine’s 34th Independence Day, just days before Russian leader Vladimir Putin is expected to arrive in China.
Zelenskyy shared the message on X on August 24, which marked their first known communication in more than two years and the first public record of Xi extending well wishes to Ukraine on its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
According to Bloomberg on August 26, Chinese state media, which normally highlight Xi’s correspondence with world leaders, have not reported on the note. At a press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun avoided directly commenting on the message, stating only that Beijing develops friendly ties with all nations “based on the principle of win-win cooperation.”
I appreciate congratulations by Chairman Xi Jinping on the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day and underscore our interest in developing long-term bilateral dialogue with mutual respect and for the sake of peace, stability, and prosperity. pic.twitter.com/Mdtt6pdPLk
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2025
According to Zelenskyy’s post, Xi said he stood “ready to work with you to guide our bilateral relations towards steady and long-term development and bring greater benefits to the peoples of both countries.” Zelenskyy noted that he welcomed the outreach and underscored mutual interests in strengthening bilateral ties.
Xi’s message comes ahead of Putin’s planned visit to China for its largest diplomatic event of the year, where he is also expected to attend a military parade—occasions likely to showcase the deepening partnership between Beijing and Moscow, Bloomberg reported.
Earlier, it was reported that Beijing might be prepared to take part in a United Nations-mandated peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
However, China has denied such claims. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told state outlet Global Times that “these reports are not consistent with reality” and stressed that Beijing’s stance on Ukraine “remains consistent and clear.”
