Zelensky vows to proceed combating as Ukraine marks independence day

President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned Ukraine would proceed to combat for its freedom “whereas its requires peace will not be heard,” in a defiant handle to the nation on its independence day.

“We want a simply peace, a peace the place our future might be determined solely by us,” he mentioned, including that Ukraine was “not a sufferer, it’s a fighter”.

He continued: “Ukraine has not but received, nevertheless it has definitely not misplaced.”

Zelensky’s remarks got here after Moscow mentioned Ukraine had attacked Russian energy and vitality services in a single day, blaming drone assaults for a fireplace at a nuclear energy plant in its western Kursk area.

There have been no accidents and the hearth was shortly extinguished, the plant’s press service mentioned on messaging app Telegram. It mentioned the assault had broken a transformer, however radiation ranges had been inside the regular vary.

The United Nations’ Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company (IAEA) mentioned it was conscious of studies concerning the hearth, whereas its director basic added that “each nuclear facility have to be protected always”.

The IAEA has repeatedly known as on each Russia and Ukraine to indicate most restraint round nuclear services within the struggle.

Additionally on Sunday, Russia’s defence ministry confirmed a prisoner swap had taken place, with 146 troopers on all sides being exchanged.

The ministry additionally mentioned eight folks from Russia’s Kursk area, which was partially occupied by Ukraine for a number of months, had been handed over and would return dwelling.

Independence Day celebrations had been held in Kyiv, because the nation marked its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney took half within the celebrations, and stood beside Zelensky at St Sophia’s Cathedral as he addressed the group:

“I wish to say one thing quite simple and vital: Canada will at all times stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.”

He mentioned drones, ammunition and armoured autos price greater than $1bn Canadian {dollars} (£534m) could be delivered to Ukraine as early as September, Ukrainian media reported. The deliveries would make up greater than half of a assist package deal he introduced in July.

Additionally current was US envoy Keith Kellogg – whom Ukrainian media reported was awarded the Order of Advantage, first diploma by Zelensky through the ceremony.

After Zelensky thanked him and US President Donald Trump for his or her assist, Kellogg could possibly be heard telling Zelensky: “We’ll make this work”.

Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of employees, wrote on Telegram early on Sunday: “On this big day – Ukraine’s Independence Day – it’s particularly vital for us to really feel the assist of our buddies. And Canada has at all times stood by us.”

In the meantime, Zelensky shared a letter from King Charles sending the folks of Ukraine his “warmest and most honest needs”.

“I hold feeling the best and deepest admiration for the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian folks,” the King writes. “I stay hopeful that our nations will have the ability to additional work intently collectively to realize a simply and lasting peace.”

Zelensky mentioned the King’s “form phrases are a real inspiration for our folks through the troublesome time of struggle”.

The UK authorities additionally mentioned Ukrainian flags would seem above Downing Road in recognition of the anniversary.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that British army specialists will proceed to coach Ukrainian troopers till a minimum of the tip of 2026, with an extension to Operation Interflex – the codename given to the UK Armed Forces’ coaching programme for Ukrainian recruits.

Norway introduced on Sunday that it might contribute about 7 billion kroner (£514m; $693m) of air defence techniques to Ukraine.

“Along with Germany, we are actually making certain that Ukraine receives highly effective air defence techniques,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Retailer mentioned in a press release.

The 2 nations are funding two Patriot techniques, together with missiles, with Norway additionally serving to procure air defence radar.

Additionally on Sunday, Ukraine and Sweden introduced that they had agreed to joint defence manufacturing, with Sweden’s defence minister saying it might “enhance Swedish rearmament and meet the wants of Ukraine’s armed forces”.

Pål Jonson wrote on X: “Ukraine will share and supply know-how for its factories in Sweden and defence materiel co-produced in Sweden might be exported to Ukraine.”

On Saturday, Russia mentioned its forces in jap Ukraine had seized two villages within the Donetsk area.

Russian forces have been advancing very slowly, and at nice price, in jap Ukraine and now management about 20% of Ukraine’s territory.

A full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched by Russia in February 2022.

There was intense diplomacy over the struggle this month, with US President Donald Trump assembly his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on 15 August.

The summit was billed as an important step in direction of peace in Ukraine. Nonetheless, regardless of each leaders claiming the talks had been successful, Trump has since proven rising frustration publicly over the shortage of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

The US president has mentioned he’s contemplating both hitting Russia with additional financial sanctions or strolling away from peace talks.

“I’ll decide as to what we do and it will be, it will be a vital resolution, and that is whether or not or not it is huge sanctions or huge tariffs or each, or we do nothing and say it is your combat,” Trump mentioned on Friday.

Zelensky has repeatedly known as for an unconditional ceasefire and his European allies have additionally insisted on a halt in combating.

He has accused Russia of “doing all the things it could” to stop a gathering with Putin to attempt to finish the struggle.

Russia’s Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov mentioned Putin was prepared to satisfy Ukraine’s chief “when the agenda is prepared for a summit, and this agenda is just not prepared in any respect”, accusing Zelensky of claiming “no to all the things”.