Zelensky vows to continue fighting as Ukraine marks independence day

President Folodimir Zellinski said that Ukraine will continue to struggle for its freedom “while its calls for peace are not heard”, in a challenging speech to the nation on the day of its independence.

He said, “We need a just peace, and peace in which our future decides only by us,” adding that Ukraine was “not a victim, it is a fighter.”

He continued: “Ukraine has not yet won, but it is certainly not lost.”

Zelinski’s comments came after Moscow said that Ukraine attacked Russian energy and energy facilities overnight, and blamed the drone attacks for a fire at a nuclear power plant in the western Kursk region.

The Ukrainian government center for misleading information said it was reported that the shooting of a drone caused the fire.

The center blamed Russia for the “spread of manipulation” and said that Russia accuses Ukraine “, which is claiming to carry out the targeted strikes” at the power plant “is a model method of Russian propaganda.

The factory press service in the TELGRAM reported application said that there were any injuries and the fire was extinguished quickly. He said that the attack had been affected by a transformer, but the levels of radiation were within the normal rate.

The United Nations atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was aware of the reports of fire, but it could not confirm it independently. “Every nuclear facility must be protected at all times,” said its general manager.

International Atomic Energy Agency He has repeatedly called on Russia and Ukraine To show the maximum restraint around nuclear facilities in the war.

On Sunday, Russia and Ukraine confirmed that the swap of prisoners had occurred, as 146 soldiers were exchanged on each side.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also said eight people from The Russian Cursk region, which was partially occupied by Ukraine for several monthsHe was delivered and will return home.

Zelinski said that those who returned from Russia, including soldiers, border guards and civilians, most of them have been in captivity since 2022.

He also said that the journalist DMYTRO Khilyuk, who was “kidnapped in the Kiev region” at the beginning of the war, was returning home.

The Independence Day celebrations were held in Kiev, as the country was distinguished by its statement of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carne participated in the celebrations, and he stood beside Zelinski in the Cathedral of St. Sofia, addressing the crowd:

“I want to say something simple and very important: Canada will always stand along with a shoulder with Ukraine.”

He said that drones, ammunition and armored vehicles, which are part of the Canadian military package of $ 2 billion (1 billion pounds), will be delivered to Ukraine early in September. Records will be more than half of a support package announced in July.

The American envoy Keith Kelog – which was reported by the Ukrainian media was also attended by the first -class entitlement order by Zelinski during the ceremony.

After Zelensky and our president, US Donald Trump, thanked him, Kelogi can hear Zelinski: “We will do this work.”

“On this private day – the day of Ukraine’s independence – it is especially important for us to feel the support of our friends. Canada has always been standing next to us.”

Meanwhile, Zelensky shared a letter from King Charles sending the people of Ukraine, “The warmest and most honest desires.”

“I still feel the greatest admiration for the deepest unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people,” the king writes. “I still hope that our country is able to increase work closely to achieve a just and lasting peace.”

Zelinski said that the king’s delicate words are a true source of inspiration for our people during the difficult time of the war. “

The UK government also said that the Ukrainian flags will appear above the Downing Street in appreciation of the anniversary.

The Ministry of Defense confirmed that the British military experts will continue to train Ukrainian soldiers until the end of 2026, with an extension of the interflex operation – the symbolic name granted to the UK’s armed forces training program.

Norway announced on Sunday that it will contribute about 7 billion kronor (514 million pounds; $ 693 million) of air defense systems to Ukraine.

“Along with Germany, we now guarantee that Ukraine will receive strong air defense systems,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas publicly said in a statement.

The two countries are funding two Patriot systems, including missiles, as Norway also helps in buying an air defense radar.

Also on Sunday, Ukraine and Sweden announced that they had agreed to joint defense production, as the Sweden Minister of Defense would “strengthen the Swedish armament and meet the needs of the armed forces in Ukraine.”

Pål Jonson wrote on x: “Ukraine will participate and provide technology for its factories in Sweden and the defense that was produced in Sweden to Ukraine.”

On Saturday, Russia said that its forces in eastern Ukraine seized two villages in the Donetsk region.

Russian forces are advancing very slowly, at a large cost, in eastern Ukraine and now controlling about 20 % of Ukraine.

Russia launched a large -scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

There was intense diplomacy on the war this month, as US President Donald Trump met his head of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, Alaska on August 15.

The summit was described as a vital step towards peace in Ukraine. However, although both leaders claim that the talks have been successful, Trump has since showed increased frustration publicly due to the lack of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

The US president said he was either considering hitting Russia with more economic sanctions or moving away from peace talks.

“I will make a decision on what we do and it will be that, it will be a very important decision, and that’s whether it is enormous penalties or huge tariff or both, or we do nothing and say it is your battle,” Trump said on Friday.

Zelinski has repeatedly called for an unconditional ceasefire and his European allies insisted on stopping the fighting.

Russia was accused of “doing everything in his power” to prevent a meeting with Putin to try to end the war.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Putin is ready to meet the Ukraine leader, “when the agenda is ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all,” accusing Zelinsky of saying “No to everything.”