As Ukraine marks its 35th Independence Day celebrations in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that his country wants peace but will not surrender to Russia’s demands.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa were among the foreign dignitaries attending events marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine would continue seeking an end to the war but rejected Russia’s demand that Kyiv surrender the remaining parts of the eastern Donbas region that are still under Ukrainian control.
“Ukraine absolutely wants peace, but it is not ready to simply surrender,” Zelenskiy said in a video address. He argued that giving up more territory would not guarantee an end to Russian aggression.
Burnham, making his first visit to Kyiv as prime minister, was expected to announce British support for expanding Ukraine’s domestic production of long-range missiles.
He was also due to co-chair a virtual meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The group was expected to discuss Ukraine’s request for additional air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian missile attacks.
Zelenskiy also called for increased production of Ukrainian weapons, including the Flamingo cruise missile, and urged domestic manufacturer Fire Point to accelerate output ahead of the winter.
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Burnham indicated that Britain would allow Ukraine to use classified British technology to begin producing European SCALP long-range cruise missiles. The Kremlin criticised the move, saying it would escalate the conflict.
Fighting continues along a roughly 1,200-km front line, while Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine has responded with long-range strikes against Russian refineries, logistics facilities and other infrastructure.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine faces a $27 billion defence funding shortfall this year and urged its international partners to provide more military assistance, sanctions and diplomatic pressure to force Russia back to negotiations.
