Ukraine wants peace but won’t give in, says Zelensky on Independence Day

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine addressed the nation on Monday, Independence Day, cautioning against Russia's belief that surrendering the Donbas region would end the war. Dressed in a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt, Zelensky stood in front of the St Michael's monastery in Kyiv, where burned-out Russian tanks are displayed.

He stressed that Ukraine seeks peace, but is unwilling to simply yield any part of its territory to Russia. Zelensky rejected Russia's repeated demand that Ukraine cede the eastern Donbas area, stating that such a concession would not bring an end to the hostilities. Over 350,000 lives have been lost and vast swathes of Ukrainian land have been destroyed since Russia's full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022.

Despite the ongoing conflict and Russia's advances, Zelensky called upon allies to provide Ukraine with everything necessary to stop the war and urged them to pressure Russia for negotiations and impose more sanctions. He hoped that the United States' concerns about Russia would dissipate and called on China to cease its silence.

Other notable attendees included British Prime Minister Andrew Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa, who arrived in Kyiv for the festivities.