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

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine delivered a defiant speech on Monday, marking Independence Day celebrations, emphasizing that Ukraine seeks peace but will not give in to Russia at any cost. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa, among other foreign leaders and dignitaries, attended the events in Kyiv to commemorate Ukraine's 35th anniversary of breaking away from the Soviet Union.

Zelensky, wearing a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt, denounced Russia's claim that ceding the Donbas region would end the war. He elaborated that Russian demands for Kyiv to surrender the eastern Donbas area, which remains under Ukrainian control after four and a half years of conflict, would not suffice to halt Russian aggression.

Zelensky stressed that Ukraine is not prepared to surrender and vowed not to let Russia seize the initiative, deceiving Europe and the entire world into believing that simply giving up Donbas would bring an end to hostilities. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and extensive destruction of Ukrainian territory since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.

Although Russia's advances have slowed, and Ukraine has reclaimed some land in the southeast, Moscow continues to threaten the strategic eastern city of Kostiantynivka in Donbas. Russia has intensified its air strikes on cities outside the frontline due to Ukraine's limited supply of anti-ballistic missiles. Ukraine has also intensified its long-range attacks on Russian refineries and logistics infrastructure to weaken Moscow's war effort.

Zelensky appealed to allies to provide Ukraine with whatever support is necessary to put an end to the war, urging them to bring Russia to the negotiating table and impose additional sanctions. He hoped that all the disagreements and concerns the United States has about Russia would fade away, and he called on China to stop remaining silent.