President Volodymyr Zelenskiy marked Ukraine's Independence Day on Sunday (August 24) with a video address praising his people's courage amid the war.

Speaking in a video message filmed on Kyiv's central Maidan square, Zelenskiy said Ukraine's partners recognised his country as "a strong ally" in Europe and beyond.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

KYIV, UKRAINE (RELEASED AUGUST 24, 2025) (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE - Music not cleared for use, please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings)

1. DRONE SHOT OF MAIDAN SQUARE, UKRAINIAN FLAG, TITLES READING (Ukrainian): "President's address on Ukraine's Independence Day"

2. DRONE SHOT OF INDEPENDENCE MONUMENT

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

"This is what we have been doing for 1,278 days of this war, the war for independence. For each of these days I want to thank you, Ukrainian soldier, Ukrainian volunteer, doctor, rescuer, teacher. Our youth, our parents, every Ukrainian man and woman. Thank you all for what we've already been through, and for creating Ukraine together."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

"In 100 years, the Independence Day of Ukraine will be celebrated here. So it will be (CONTINUES OVER NEW CAMERA ANGLE), so it will be, because Ukraine is different today. Ukraine is stronger and respects itself. And Ukraine does not wait for a gesture of goodwill, but has its own will to implement what we need."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING:

"Happy Independence Day to you, great people of a great country. Glory to Ukraine!"

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kyiv and was greeted by Ukrainian Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak.

This is Carney's first official visit to the country, and falls on the 34th anniversary of Ukraine proclaiming independence from the Soviet Union.

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KYIV, UKRAINE (AUGUST 24, 2025) (ORIGINALLY FILMED IN PORTRAIT) (ANDRIY YERMAK - Access all) (MUTE)

8. SIGN AT TRAIN STATION THAT READS "CANADA - UKRAINE"

9. TRAIN APPROACHING STATION

10. UKRAINIAN CHIEF OF STAFF, ANDRIY YERMAK, WAITING FOR CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER, MARK CARNEY

11. CARNEY GETTING OFF TRAIN AND SHAKING HANDS WITH UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS

Carney and U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg join Zelenskiy for a state celebration marking Ukraine's Independence Day.

Carney pledged Canada's continued support and urged deterrence against Russia amid ongoing discussions about western security guarantees for Ukraine.

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KYIV, UKRAINE (AUGUST 24, 2025) (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE - Access all)

12. DRONE SHOT OF ST. SOPHIA CATHEDRAL

13. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, AND FIRST LADY OLENA ZELENSKA WALKING HAND-IN-HAND, ARRIVING FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT

14. VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS, SOLDIERS, EMERGENCY SERVICE WORKERS, POLICE OFFICERS, ZELENSKIY SINGING/ AUDIO OF UKRAINIAN HYMN

15. HEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE, ANDRIY YERMAK, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY, KEITH KELLOGG, SECRETARY OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE COUNCIL, RUSTEM UMEROV / AUDIO OF UKRAINIAN HYMN

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING (OVER VARIOUS ANGLES):

"With us here in Ukraine today is Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. And this is your first visit to Ukraine, Mr. Prime Minister, right on Independence Day. It's an honour for us. Thank you."

17. CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER, MARK CARNEY, THANKING ZELENSKIY

18. CARNEY AND ZELENSKIY

19. UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANDRII SYBIHA AND UKRAINIAN DEFENCE MINISTER DENYS SHMYHAL APPLAUDING

20. HONOUR GUARD, CARNEY AND ZELENSKIY ON PODIUM / AUDIO OF ZELENSKIY SPEAKING

21. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, SAYING (OVER VARIOUS ANGLES):

"And every day, we're returning more and more of this war to where it came from. Into the Russian sky and onto the Russian land. And with every step of this war there, with pressure on Russia, with their real losses, we know that peace for Ukraine is getting closer."

22. YERMAK, KELLOGG, UMEROV

23. DRONE SHOT OF SQUARE

24. VARIOUS OF KELLOGG WALKING OVER ST. SOPHIA SQUARE TO ZELENSKIY

25. VARIOUS OF ZELENSKIY AWARDING KELLOGG

26. KELLOGG WALKING AWAY

ZelenskIy and Carney hold a moment of silence in Kyiv's Maidan Square as Ukraine marks Independence Day.

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KYIV, UKRAINE (AUGUST 24, 2025) (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS HANDOUT - Access All)

27. STICK BEATING DRUM

28. SOLDIERS STANDING IN SILENCE

29. UKRAINIAN FIRST LADY, OLENA ZELENSKA, IN SILENCE

30. CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY IN SILENCE

31. OFFICIALS STANDING IN SILENCE

32. ZELENSKIY AND CARNEY STANDING TOGETHER IN SILENCE

33. ZELENSKIY IN SILENCE

34. SOLDIERS STANDING IN SILENCE

35. PRIESTS

36. ZELENSKIY AND CARNEY STANDING TOGETHER, ZELENSKIY ENDING SILENCE, SAYING (Ukrainian): ‘Thank you’

At a press conference, Carney says he won't rule out Canadian troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees.

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KYIV, UKRAINE (AUGUST 24, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

37. CANADA AND UKRAINE FLAGS (MUTE)

38. CARNEY AND ZELENSKIY AT PRESS CONFERENCE

39. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY, SAYING:

"We are working through with our allies and coalition of the willing, and with Ukraine, the modalities of those security guarantees, on land, in the air, and the sea. And I would not exclude the presence of troops."

40. CARNEY AND ZELENSKIY SHAKING HANDS AT END OF PRESS CONFERENCE / WALKING AWAY

Pope Leo renews calls for peace in Ukraine as the eastern European nation celebrates Independence Day.

(9336-UKRAINE-CRISIS/POPE LEO)

VATICAN CITY (AUGUST 24, 2025) (VATICAN MEDIA - Access all)

41. VIEW OF ST PETER'S SQUARE

42. POPE LEO BLESSING FAITHFUL

43. FAITHFUL WAVING YELLOW DRAPES

44. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"Today we join our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who, with the spiritual initiative ‘World Prayer for Ukraine’, are asking the Lord to grant peace to their tormented country”.

45. VARIOUS OF CROWD IN ST PETER'S SQUARE

World leaders send messages of support on Ukraine's Independence Day.

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INTERNET (AUGUST 24, 2025) (SOCIAL MEDIA - Access All)

46. LETTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE "X" POSTED BY UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, FROM U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, READING (English):

“Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of the American people, I extend my congratulations and warmest wishes to you and the courageous people of Ukraine as you celebrate 34 years of independence.

The people of Ukraine have an unbreakable spirit, and your country's courage inspires many. As you mark this important day, know the United States respects your fight, honors your sacrifices, and believes in your future as an independent nation.

Now is the moment to bring an end to the senseless killing. The United States supports a negotiated settlement that leads to a durable, lasting peace that ends the bloodshed and safeguards Ukraine's sovereignty and dignity.

God bless Ukraine.

Sincerely,

Donald J. Trump”

47. LETTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE "X" POSTED BY ZELENSKIY, FROM UK KING CHARLES, READING (English):

“Dear Mr. President!

My wife and I sincerely congratulate you and the people of Ukraine on the occasion of Independence Day.

I keep feeling the greatest and deepest admiration for the unbreakable courage and spirit of the Ukrainian people. I remain hopeful that our countries will be able to further work closely together to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

My wife and I are delighted to extend our warmest and most sincere wishes to you and all Ukrainians for the coming year.

King Charles”

48. LETTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE "X" POSTED BY ZELENSKIY, FROM FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, READING (French):

“Mr President,

I would like to extend to you, and through you to all the Ukrainian people, my warmest congratulations on the 34th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

For three and a half years now, Ukraine has inspired the respect and admiration of all in its fight for its freedom, independence, and territorial integrity. The courage and determination of the Ukrainian people are a commitment to us and will remain in history.

Since February 24, 2022, France has stood alongside Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in their resistance to Russian aggression. Faced with this historic challenge for the European Union and the European continent, we have assumed our responsibilities and proven that unity and solidarity are not empty words.

On the military front, France, in coordination with the United Kingdom, worked to establish the Coalition of the Willing in March 2025. This group now brings together more than thirty states committed to supporting Ukraine.

By 2025, the European Union will have provided €30 billion in budgetary support to Ukraine, with the unprecedented instruments of the Ukraine Facility and the ERA mechanism, allowing the use of revenues from frozen Russian assets. This support is intended to last.

France also stands alongside Ukraine in preparing for the future. I am proud of the decisive role France played, under its Presidency of the Council, in enabling Ukraine to officially become a candidate. We will continue to support you throughout this demanding process.

Please be assured that our diplomatic engagement aims above all to ensure a just and lasting peace, so that Ukraine retains its sovereignty and freedom of choice, and so that the Ukrainian people can live in security and prosperity within the European family.

I welcome the relationship of trust and friendship that our two countries have forged. This relationship has been strengthened through adversity, and I have no doubt that it will continue to grow stronger, based on shared values and a common future.

Please accept, Mr. President, the assurance of my highest consideration.”

49. LETTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE "X" POSTED BY ZELENSKIY, FROM CHINESE PRESIDENT, XI JINPING, READING (English):

“Dear Mr. President,

On the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to you and the friendly Ukrainian people.

China and Ukraine enjoy a traditional friendship. Over the past 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-Ukraine relations have developed steadily, and cooperation in various fields has yielded remarkable results.

I stand 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.

Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China”

50. SCREENSHOT OF POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE "X" BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, READING (English):

“We stand with Ukraine today, and always. Slava Ukraini.”

51. SCREENSHOT OF POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE "X" BY PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, READING (English):

“A free, democratic and independent Ukraine.

That's what you are fighting for.

That's what our efforts are all about.

We are with you, for as long as it takes. Because a free Ukraine is a free Europe.

Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!”

52. SCREENSHOT OF POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE "X" BY CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY, FRIEDRICH MERZ, READING (Ukrainian):

“Ukrainians are defending themselves with great courage against Russia's attacks. They are fighting for our way of life based on freedom in Europe and for a just peace. On Independence Day, we firmly stand by their side – today and in the future.”