Ukraine congratulated Israel on its 78th anniversary: what the President, Prime Minister, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine wrote

On April 22, 2026, Israel celebrates the 78th anniversary of independence, and Ukraine used this date not only for diplomatic protocol but also to convey a series of political signals. Congratulations were addressed to the Israeli leadership by President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha. Together, these messages show that Kyiv seeks to emphasize the special nature of relations with Israel against the backdrop of war, regional instability, and growing common threats.

The congratulations were posted on its resources by the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel on the evening of April 21.

For the Israeli audience, it is important that these are not disparate formal letters. If you read all these texts together, it becomes clear: Ukraine is consistently building a line in which Israel is considered a state with a similar historical experience, as an important international partner, as a country whose position on issues of sovereignty and security is of real significance to Kyiv.

What signals did Kyiv send to Israel on the 78th anniversary of independence

In the congratulation to President Isaac Herzog, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizes the strong historical ties between the Ukrainian and Israeli peoples. He directly writes that the experience of fighting for survival, statehood, and confronting common enemies creates a foundation for more decisive and coordinated actions.

This is one of the key formulas of the entire congratulatory block. Ukraine emphasizes not only respect for Israel as a state but also the similarity of historical circumstances in which both countries were forced to fight for the right to their own existence. For the Israeli reader, such an emphasis sounds extremely clear: Kyiv consciously appeals to that part of the Israeli political and public consciousness where issues of security, survival, and independent defense of the country are central.

Zelensky also separately confirms the readiness to strengthen the Ukrainian-Israeli partnership based on trust and mutual respect. At the same time, gratitude to Israel for supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is accompanied by a clear expectation: Kyiv expects more consistent support and expanded practical interaction in areas critically important for the protection of citizens’ lives and well-being.

What is especially important in the letter from the President of Ukraine

The tone of the letter is diplomatic, but its content cannot be called merely ceremonial. Behind the words about peace, security, and prosperity lies a quite practical message: Ukraine wants to see Israel not just as a friendly country, but as a state ready to deepen cooperation, primarily in matters of security and strategic resilience.

That is why the President’s congratulation looks both festive and political. It does not contain harsh rhetoric, but there is a distinct call for the next stage of relations.

What the Prime Minister and the head of the Ukrainian parliament said

Yulia Svyrydenko, in her address to Benjamin Netanyahu, places a more pronounced emphasis on trade, investment, and institutional cooperation. She calls Israel one of Ukraine’s main trading partners in the Middle East and emphasizes that bilateral contacts confirm the significant potential for further development of mutually beneficial relations.

Separately, the Prime Minister mentions the prospect of extending the free trade agreement to the service sector. For Israeli business, the technology sector, and those following the Ukrainian-Israeli economic agenda, this is one of the most substantial elements of the entire series of congratulations. It shows that Kyiv is thinking not only about the military and political components of relations but also about the long-term economic architecture of cooperation.

Svyrydenko also speaks about the need to intensify cooperation within existing bilateral mechanisms and to launch new formats of interaction. Her letter lists defense, trade, investment, innovative technologies, medicine, and culture. Such a set of areas looks like an attempt to form the widest possible framework for future partnership, where political support is combined with practical directions of joint work.

Ruslan Stefanchuk, addressing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, shifts the focus to the inter-parliamentary level and the general response to threats from aggressive authoritarian regimes. He emphasizes that Ukrainian-Israeli relations are based on deep historical and cultural ties, and today both peoples are united by the desire to confront modern security challenges.

For Israel, another element is especially important here: Stefanchuk directly speaks about the expectation of further active and consistent support from the Jewish state, including on international platforms. This is no longer just a symbol of friendship, but an open reminder that Israel’s position matters in the global diplomatic system, where Ukraine seeks broader and more sustainable support.

In this context, NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency draws attention to an important detail: the first three congratulations already built a full vertical of the Ukrainian signal to Israel — presidential, governmental, and parliamentary levels. But with the involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this structure becomes even more coherent and shows that Kyiv consciously frames the congratulation on Israel’s Independence Day as a comprehensive political message.

Why economic and parliamentary accents complement each other

Svyrydenko’s congratulation shows the practical side of relations: trade, services, investments, technologies, medicine. Stefanchuk’s address emphasizes the political resilience of ties through inter-parliamentary dialogue and international coordination.

Together they create an important balance. Ukraine seems to be telling Israel that relations should not be limited to words of solidarity during a crisis. They can and should develop as a multi-level partnership, where there is security, economy, diplomacy, and institutional mechanisms.

What the congratulation from Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha added

The congratulation from Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha to Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar adds another important dimension — foreign policy and personal diplomacy. Sybiha addresses his Israeli colleague with the words “Your Excellency, dear friend,” and then builds the text around the idea of Israel’s historical resilience and the parallel with Ukraine’s current struggle.

This is a very indicative framework. Sybiha writes that Israel has defended its right to exist throughout its history, and the people of Israel have demonstrated outstanding resilience in defending their future. He then directly draws an analogy with Ukraine, which has been fighting for its own existence, freedom, and the right to determine its destiny independently for four years in the face of ongoing brutal armed aggression.

For the Israeli audience, this is probably one of the most sensitive elements of the entire congratulatory package. Here, Ukraine is not just asking for support but consciously placing itself alongside Israel’s historical experience of survival in a hostile environment. Such a formula is aimed not only at the diplomatic apparatus but also at a deeper understanding from Israeli society.

Sybiha separately thanks Gideon Sa’ar and the Israeli government for supporting Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The support of Israel for the UN General Assembly resolution “Support for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine,” adopted on February 24, 2026, is particularly emphasized. This is already a very specific diplomatic marker that translates the conversation from a general level of sympathy to the plane of confirmed international decisions.

Why Sybiha’s letter is especially important

If Zelensky sets the strategic framework, Svyrydenko the economic, and Stefanchuk the parliamentary, then Sybiha shapes the foreign policy dimension of these relations. He directly speaks about the need for constant and enhanced support from Israel, considering the scale of challenges facing Ukraine, including humanitarian, security, and defense needs.

In this letter, the language of coordination in the face of common threats is particularly noticeable. Sybiha writes that both countries are experiencing extremely difficult times that require unity, resilience, and coordinated efforts. This is no longer just a polite festive message, but a diplomatically structured invitation to closer interaction.

Another important detail is the hope for continued close cooperation. Such an ending may sound standard, but in this context, it works as part of the overall Ukrainian signal: Kyiv wants not one-time gestures, but deeper, consistent, and practically tangible partnership with Israel.

What this entire package of congratulations means for Israel

If you put all the addresses together, a very clear picture emerges. Zelensky talks about the struggle for statehood and the need to deepen cooperation in the field of security. Svyrydenko about trade, investments, technologies, and new economic formats. Stefanchuk about inter-parliamentary interaction and international support. Sybiha about the resilience of the two peoples, diplomatic coordination, and gratitude for specific support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Thus, Ukraine congratulated Israel on its 78th anniversary not just with warm words, but with a whole series of complementary political messages. For the Israeli audience, this means that Kyiv continues to perceive Israel as an important and desired partner along several lines — from security and diplomacy to economy and international institutions.

Against the backdrop of war and general turbulence in the Middle East and Europe, this looks especially noticeable. Ukraine clearly does not want Israel to remain only a symbolically friendly country. It consistently shows that it expects a more structured, practical, and sustainable partnership in the future.