Amid the ongoing fight for freedom, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that the nation is “not a victim” but a fighter.
On Sunday, Ukraine marked its 34th Independence Day with ceremonies across the country and abroad as a war-torn people celebrated freedom despite Russia’s invasion entering its fourth year.
Zelensky’s vow for ‘a just peace’
Addressing the whole nation from the capital Kyiv, Zelensky delivered a defiant message, vowing that Ukraine would continue to resist until peace is achieved on its own terms.
“We need a just peace, a peace where our future will be decided only by us,” he said, as reported by the BBC.
“Ukraine has not yet won, but it has certainly not lost.”
He further claimed that the country “is not a victim – it is a fighter”, emphasising that the war’s outcome must not be dictated by Moscow.
Zelensky’s comments came just hours after Russia accused Ukraine of launching drone attacks, including one that caused a fire and transformer damage at the Kursk nuclear plant in western Russia.
Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, however, dismissed the allegations, calling them a familiar tactic of Russian propaganda.
The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said it could not independently confirm the incident but reiterated that “every nuclear facility must be protected at all times”.
Despite all this, the day also brought a rare moment of relief as Ukraine and Russia exchanged 146 prisoners each.
Amongst those freed, according to Zelensky, was journalist Dmytro Khilyuk, who had been detained since 2022.
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Global solidarity from Warsaw to California
Independence Day was also celebrated far beyond Ukraine’s borders.
In Warsaw, thousands of individuals gathered in Castle Square for a ‘Stand with Ukraine’ rally.
They waved Polish and Ukrainian flags and sang the Ukrainian national anthem while holding signs bearing the names of those who have been killed in the war.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki sent a letter of support to Zelensky, pledging that Poland would “stand by your nation in this difficult time”, according to Notes from Poland.
“Your fight is not only a fight for your own borders and the right to self-determination, but also a heroic contribution to the defence of values that are the foundation of European civilisation,” Nawrocki wrote.
Zelensky responded by praising Poland and calling it a “reliable ally and strategic partner”.
In the United States, hundreds gathered at California’s State Capitol in Sacramento.
The crowd observed a sombre yet spirited commemoration, holding up Ukrainian flags and raising funds for the military, local station KCRA reported.
“This day is a reminder to the whole world what freedom is about,” asserted Ukrainian-American Vlad Skots.
“We are here to remark the courage of the Ukrainian people.”
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Peace talks falter as fighting continues
Despite the celebratory spirit, the day also highlighted how peace remains elusive, especially with Russia advancing in eastern Donetsk on Saturday.
Hopes for a summit between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin also became more uncertain last week after Moscow ruled out any immediate meeting, according to Agence France-Presse.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Western nations of blocking the talks, while Zelensky countered that the Kremlin was “trying to wriggle out of holding a meeting”.
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