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President Donald Trump praised Ukraine’s “courageous people” and “unbreakable spirit” in a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the two leaders’ relationship remains rickety and Trump presses for a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“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,” Trump wrote in a letter congratulating Zelenskyy on Ukraine’s independence holiday, according to a photo Zelenskyy shared on X on Aug. 24.

“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,” Trump said, adding “God bless Ukraine.”

In his post, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the letter and for “standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.”

The letter came less than a week after Trump met with Zelenskyy and other European leaders in the White House on Aug. 18 amid tense negotiations to end Russia’s years-long invasion.

Some kind of U.S.-backed security guarantee for Ukraine is on the table after the meeting, but it’s not clear how such an agreement would shape up. Trump initally said the United States would be “involved” in a possible peacekeeping force led by European allies, but later gave his “assurance” that he would not put U.S. boots on the ground.

The meeting was a stark contrast from the pair’s explosive February conversation in the White House, which began with a jab from Trump over Zelenskyy’s informal outfit and ended with the U.S. president sending his counterpart packing early.

This time around, Zelenskyy wore a suit, and Vice President JD Vance, who upbraided the Ukrainian leader during the first meeting for not saying “thank you” for U.S. aid, stayed silent.

The Oval Office conversation came just four days after Trump met Putin at a hotly anticipated summit in Alaska. The meeting didn’t produce a ceasefire deal, feeding some criticism in Washington, though the president has argued that he’s now pushing for a long-term peace agreement.

“Now, it’s up to President Zelenskyy to get it done,” Trump told Fox News in an interview after the summit.