The message reads, in part:
”Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of Ukraine's national holiday, the 16th anniversary of its declaration of independence.
Our peoples are linked by centuries of spiritual and cultural ties and inseparable friendly and neighbourly relations. I am convinced that the stability and consistent development that exist today, as well as the progressive strengthening of the Ukrainian government on a sound legal basis, namely that of democratic principles, is in both of our countries' core interests.
We are in favour of further developing mutually advantageous Russian-Ukrainian cooperation in all possible ways and expending joint efforts to make our relations those of truly strategic partners“.