On Ukraine’s Independence Day, President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his call for direct talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, insisting that “the format of talks between leaders is the most effective way forward” even as Moscow ruled out such a meeting, reported by Hurriyet Daily News.
The appeal came against the backdrop of war on multiple fronts. Ukrainian commanders announced the recapture of three villages in Donetsk, even as Russia claimed new advances in the same region. The exchange of territory underscored the grinding nature of the conflict, now in its third year, with neither side able to claim decisive momentum.
Despite the stalemate, one fragile channel of cooperation remains: prisoner swaps. On Sunday, both sides reported releasing 146 prisoners each, including two Ukrainian journalists whose freedom was welcomed by Reporters Without Borders. The group condemned their abductions and described abuse suffered in detention.
The day’s fighting was punctuated by drone and missile attacks. Ukraine said it launched strikes deep into Russian territory, sparking a fire at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, though no radiation leak was reported. Russia, meanwhile, claimed to have intercepted dozens of Ukrainian drones across its western regions, including near Saint Petersburg and the Ust-Luga fuel terminal, where another blaze erupted. Ukrainian officials reported Russian missile and drone barrages that killed civilians in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
At Kyiv’s Independence Day ceremony, attended by foreign dignitaries, Zelensky struck a defiant tone. “Ukraine has not yet fully won, but it will certainly not lose,” he said. “Ukraine is not a victim; it is a fighter.” He underscored the importance of future security guarantees, suggesting that the presence of foreign troops after the war would be crucial.
World leaders, including U.S. and European allies, marked the occasion with pledges of continued support. Norway announced $700 million toward providing Ukraine with U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems in cooperation with Germany.
Russia, which now occupies about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, has shown little willingness to concede ground. Putin continues to rebuff calls for a ceasefire, leaving Ukraine’s battlefield resilience and Zelensky’s appeals for dialogue as the fragile pillars of Kyiv’s path forward.
