Ukraine wants peace but won’t ‘simply surrender’, Zelensky says on Independence Day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a defiant address on Independence Day, emphasizing that while Ukraine desires peace, it will not "simply surrender" to Russia. World leaders, including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa, attended the celebrations marking Ukraine's 35th year since breaking away from the Soviet Union.

Burnham, visiting Kyiv for the first time as prime minister, aimed to secure British aid for boosting Ukraine's domestic production of long-range missiles. They were also set to co-chair a virtual meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss Ukraine's request for more air defense systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles.

Zelensky expressed gratitude to foreign leaders for their support and reiterated Ukraine's refusal to cede any of its territory to Russia, despite the ongoing conflict that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties and significant destruction. He highlighted the defense industry's progress, urging Ukrainian arms manufacturer Fire Point to increase Flamingo cruise missile production to intensify the fight against Russia.

Burnham indicated that British technology would be utilized to aid Ukraine in producing European SCALP long-range cruise missiles. Although Russia's battlefield advances have slowed, they continue to threaten the eastern city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, where Ukraine is lacking anti-ballistic missiles. Russia has intensified its campaign of air raids on cities away from the frontline and is targeting Ukrainian infrastructure, including Russian online retailer Ozon's logistics hubs.

Zelensky noted a $27 billion defense funding gap for Ukraine this year and warned that Russia might mobilize 300,000 additional troops following September's parliamentary elections. He appealed to allies to provide Ukraine with whatever resources needed to end the war and urged them to pressure Russia with sanctions. Zelensky hoped that the US would overcome its contradictions and phobias regarding Russia and that China would stop remaining silent.