Ukraine marked its 34th anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union on Sunday, with the country facing ongoing tensions with Russia. In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that he believes Russia has made significant concessions to end the conflict. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied plans for a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to reports, Ukraine did not immediately comment on alleged attacks on power plants in its western Kursk region overnight Saturday. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that 95 of their drones were intercepted by air defenses, while Ukraine’s air force said they fired 72 drones and decoys into Russian territory. The incidents came as the country marked Independence Day with a message of resolve from Zelenskyy.
In his video address, Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to building a secure nation and called for a “just peace.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kyiv on Sunday morning for meetings with Zelenskyy, pledging CA$2 billion in new military assistance. Norway also announced significant aid, pledging US$695 million for air defense systems.
The ongoing conflict has seen both sides engaging in a war of attrition, with Russia claiming to have seized villages in the Donetsk region. However, Ukraine took back control of the village of Novomykhailivka on Sunday. The exchange of prisoners also included residents of Russia’s Kursk region, who were returned to their country after being held in Ukraine.
As the situation continues to unfold, Zelenskyy and other world leaders are calling for peace, with Pope Leo XIV praying for an end to hostilities during his weekly noon blessing.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-independence-day-war-jd-vance-russia-concessions