Ukraine marks Independence Day as JD Vance says

Ukraine on Sunday marked 34 years since its independence, since Russia accused the country of throwing drones attacks that caused a fire in a nuclear energy plant in its western region of Kursk during the night.

The weekend developments occur when the United States vice president JD Vance said in an interview that he believes that “the Russians have made significant concessions to President Trump for the first time in three and a half years of this conflict.”

“They have actually been willing to be flexible with some of their main demands,” Vance said in an interview with “Meet The Press” of NBC that was broadcast on Sunday. “They have talked about what would be necessary to put an end to war. Of course, they have not yet been completely there, or the war would end. But we are getting involved in this diplomatic process in good faith.”

President Trump received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy And European leaders last week at the White House, which Zelenskyy praised as “genuine unit.”

Vance, who was present at Monday’s meeting, told “Meet The Press” on Sunday that “we are trying to negotiate as much as we can with the Russians and the Ukrainians to find a midpoint to stop the murder.”

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also appeared in “Meet The Press”, saying that there is no planned meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskyy when the agenda would be ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all,” said Lavrov.

Moscow accuses Ukraine of aiming the energy plant

Russian officials said that several energy and energy facilities were attacked in the attacks during the night. The fire in the nuclear installation was rapidly extinguished without lesions, according to the Plant Press Service on Telegram. While the attack damaged a transformer, the radiation levels remained within the normal ranges.

The United Nations Nuclear Control Agency said it was aware of the media reports that a transformer had set fire “due to military activity”, but had not received independent confirmation. He said that its general director, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said that “each nuclear installation must be protected at all times.”

Ukraine did not immediately comment on the alleged attack.

Firefighters also responded to a fire in the port of UST-Luga in the Leningrad region of Russia, home of an important fuel export terminal. The regional governor said that approximately 10 Ukrainian drones were demolished, with debris that light the fire.

The Russian Ministry of Defense affirmed that its aerial defenses intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones about the Russian territory during the night until Sunday.

Russia triggered 72 drones and lures, along with a cruise missile, to Ukraine during the night until Sunday, said the Ukraine Air Force. Of these, 48 drones were demolished or stuck.

Another day of independence in times of war

The incidents occurred when Ukraine marked Independence Day, commemorating his declaration of independence of 1991 of the Soviet Union. Zelenskyy delivered comments in a video direction of Kyiv’s independence square, emphasizing the nation’s resolution.

“We are building a Ukrainian that will have enough strength and being able to live in security and peace,” Zelenskyy said, asking for a “fair peace.”

“What our future will be for us only,” he said, in a wink to the United States and Russia summit in Alaska in early August, which many feared would leave the Ukrainian and European marginalized interests.

“And the world knows it. And the world respects this. Respect Ukraine. Percite Ukraine as an equal,” he said.

The special envoy of the United States, Keith Kellogg, attended the celebrations of Independence Day in kyiv, during which Zelenskyy granted him the Ukrainian Merit Order, first degree.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kyiv on Sunday morning for meetings with Zelenskyy.

“On this special day, Ukraine Independence Day, it is especially important for us to feel the support of our friends. And Canada has always been by our side,” wrote Andriy Yermak, head of the Zelenskyy cabinet.

Military aid and peace prayers

In a joint press conference with Zelenskyy, Carney said that Canada will invest CA $ 2 billion (around US $ 1.44 billion) in new military assistance so that Ukraine drives its army and will provide weapons with urgently necessary.

Zelenskyy said that the two leaders were considering the presence of Canadian forces in the field in Ukraine as part of a force of tranquility.

Norway announced a new and important military aid on Sunday, promising around 7 billion Kroner (around US $ 695 million) for air defense systems. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said that Norway and Germany are jointly financing two patriot systems, including missiles, with Norway also helping to obtain the air defense radar.

Pope Leo XIV o’clock Sunday for Peace in Ukraine while marking the country’s independence day with a special attraction during his weekly noon blessing. He said the faithful joined the Ukrainians “asking the Lord to give peace to his martyred country.”

Leo also sent a telegram to Zelenskyy, which the Ukrainian leader published in X along with similar notes from other world leaders.

In the letter, Leo assured his prayers for all the Ukrainians who suffer and wrote: “I implore the Lord to move the hearts of people of good will, that the clamor of the arms can fall silent and give way to the dialogue, opening the way to peace for the good of all.”

A wear war

Meanwhile, Russia’s troops continued their impulse in the east and northern Ukraine, where Russia said on Saturday that their forces had seized two villages in the Donetsk region. The main intelligence direction of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said on Sunday that Ukraine had regained control of the Novomykhailivka village, also in the Donetsk region.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said on Sunday that 146 Russian military had been returned from Ukraine, in exchange for the same number of Ukrainian military. The Ministry said that the last exchange also included eight residents from the Kursk region of Russia, which was subject to a Ukrainian surprise incursion in August 2024, who were returned to Russia after being retained in Ukraine.

Shortly after the Russian announcement, Zelenskyy said that “our people are going home.” He said that those who are exchanging included members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the service of the State Border Guard and the civilians. “Most of them had been in captivity since 2022,” he said.

Zelenskyy did not confirm the number of prisoners involved in the exchange.

• JD Vance
• Ukraine
• Russia