Zelensky on Independence Day: "Ukraine will not be forced into a false compromise imposed by Russia."

LondonVolodymyr Zelensky took advantage of Sunday's celebration of Ukraine's Independence Day to deliver a message of resilience and unity, which he described as a "decisive" moment in the country's history. The Ukrainian president released a video recorded in the sKiev's symbolic Maidan Square, who has become an icon of resistance since 2014, in which he stressed that Ukraine has shown that "it is not a victim, but a fighter" capable of stopping the Russian army.

The commemoration of the 34th anniversary of independence It came just hours after Russia reported a drone attack on a nuclear power plant in the Kursk region, which caused a fire that has since been extinguished and raised new alarms about nuclear safety in the midst of the war.

"Today Ukraine is stronger and has self-respect. We do not expect gestures of goodwill, we have our own will," said Zelensky, who has placed Ukrainian resistance as key to maintaining European cohesion and the alliance with its partners. The president recalled that On February 24, 2022, with the start of the Russian invasion On a large scale, the country "took its destiny into its own hands" and rejected the myth of Moscow's military invincibility. "We have shown that the world's second-largest army can be stopped," he declared. Zelensky also stressed that today's Ukraine "will never again be forced into the shame of a false compromise imposed by Russia" and that only a "just peace" can guarantee stability. "Our future depends only on us, and the world knows this and respects us as equals," he added.

The stage for the speech was Independence Square, the founding site of civil uprisings and, according to Zelensky, a symbol that "on every flag is the story of a fallen hero" in the defense of the country. The president paid tribute to soldiers, volunteers, doctors, firefighters, and teachers, and argued that independence is being "forged on the battlefield, in arms factories, in hospitals, and in classrooms." He also appealed to future generations: "We are building a Ukraine so strong that our children and grandchildren will never again have to take up arms to defend freedom. In a hundred years, new generations will celebrate Independence Day here on Maidan Square. They will do so in peace and with confidence in the future."

Drone attacks and nuclear alarm

International displays of support accompanied Zelensky on the anniversary of independence. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kiev and stressed the importance of "solidarity with friends" of Ukraine. King Charles III of the United Kingdom also sent a message of congratulations, expressing his "deep admiration for the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people." For its part, the British government announced that it will continue training Ukrainian soldiers until at least 2026 as part of Operation Interflex, which has already trained thousands of recruits. Downing Street flew the Ukrainian flag on Sunday in recognition.

Norway has also confirmed it will contribute 7 billion kroner (about 592 million euros) worth of air defense systems, including two Patriot missile launchers jointly funded with Germany. "We are ensuring that Ukraine has strong defenses," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store stressed.

Regarding other types of US weapons, the Department of Defense has prevented Ukraine from using long-range ATACMS missiles (up to 300 kilometers) against Russian territory in an attempt to foster rapprochement with Moscow and explore avenues toward a peace agreement, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Defense. The Wall Street JournalSince spring, the Pentagon has been reviewing any Ukrainian attack with this weaponry, which relies on US and European technology, on a case-by-case basis.

Despite these messages of solidarity, the diplomatic situation remains at a standstill. Despite the August 15 summit in Alaska Between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the prospects for a peace agreement have diminished. Trump expressed his frustration and once again threatened new economic sanctions or tariffs against Moscow if there is no tangible progress in the next two weeks. Trump's announcements, however, should be taken with a grain of salt, because He constantly changes his mind and ultimately lets Putin buy time..

Zelensky, for his part, insists on an unconditional truce and accuses Russia of blocking any direct meeting with Putin. But the Kremlin, through Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, repeatedly stated this week that Moscow will only accept a summit "when there is a clear agenda" and accused the Ukrainian president of rejecting all proposals and his European allies of wanting strategic "destruction."

And while in Kiev attempts were being made to celebrate a festive day that has had an essentially dramatic tone for more than three years, Moscow has denounced new Ukrainian drone attacks against Russian infrastructure. According to the Kursk regional government, the province that Kiev invaded last summer and which has now been almost completely recovered by the Kremlin, several unmanned aircraft have hit the local nuclear power plant, causing a fire that damaged a transformer. However, authorities assured that there were no injuries and that radiation levels remained within normal limits. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reiterated its call for "maximum restraint" by all parties to avoid any risk around nuclear facilities.

In parallel, another fire has affected the port of Ust-Luga, in the Leningrad region, which houses a large fuel export terminal. The local governor has indicated that a dozen Ukrainian drones had been shot down and that the debris had caused the fire. Ukraine has not officially commented on the Russian accusations.

The Russian military has claimed to have captured two new towns in the Donetsk region in the last 24 hours. Despite minimal progress and a very high cost, Moscow now controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. Ukraine's independence is much more than a date on the calendar: it is the very reason to resist.