Ukraine marked its Independence Day with a mix of celebrations, prisoner exchanges, and intensified fighting, as President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed that a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin remained “the most effective way forward” in ending the war.
Call for Summit Despite Setbacks
Zelensky renewed his appeal for direct talks with Putin, saying the leader-to-leader format offered the best hope for progress. His statement came days after Russia dismissed the possibility of such a summit, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to revive peace negotiations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, accused Western nations of trying to obstruct dialogue and criticized Zelensky for “demanding an immediate meeting at all costs.”
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Prisoner Swap and Journalist Release
In a rare gesture of cooperation, both countries exchanged 146 prisoners of war and civilians each. Among them were two Ukrainian journalists, Dmytro Khyliuk and Mark Kaliush, whose release was welcomed by Reporters Without Borders. The group condemned their abduction and mistreatment in captivity.
Villages Reclaimed in Donetsk
On the battlefield, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky announced that three villages in the Donetsk region had been retaken from Russian forces. Donetsk remains a key battleground where both sides are intensifying operations.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed advances in other parts of Donetsk a day earlier, highlighting the fierce contest for control in the region.
Drone Strikes on Russian Soil
Ukraine launched a series of drone attacks on Russia during Independence Day, including one that struck near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. A fire broke out but was quickly extinguished without casualties or radiation leaks.
Additional drone strikes hit targets far from the frontline, including Saint Petersburg and the port of Ust-Luga, where a blaze erupted at a Novatek fuel terminal. Ukraine has increasingly used drones to damage Russia’s oil infrastructure, squeezing Moscow’s war finances.
Russia retaliated with heavy drone and missile strikes. Ukrainian officials said 48 out of 72 Iranian-made Shahed drones were shot down, while a ballistic missile attack killed a 47-year-old woman in Dnipropetrovsk.
Independence Day Spirit
At a Kyiv ceremony attended by Western dignitaries, Zelensky awarded U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg the Ukrainian Order of Merit. In his address, he declared: “Today, both the US and Europe agree: Ukraine has not yet fully won, but it will certainly not lose. Ukraine has secured its independence. Ukraine is not a victim; it is a fighter.”
He stressed that foreign troops stationed in Ukraine after the war would play an “important” role in ensuring security, though Russia opposes such deployments.
Global Support and Aid
Leaders from around the world, including Trump, Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron, King Charles, and Pope Leo, sent messages of solidarity.
Norway announced it would contribute $700 million toward supplying Ukraine with two Patriot air defense systems, in partnership with Germany. The systems will be delivered “as soon as possible.”
War’s Ongoing Toll
Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014. Despite growing calls for a ceasefire, Putin continues to reject immediate peace proposals.
The conflict has displaced millions, flattened cities, and claimed tens of thousands of lives, leaving Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty far from over.
