Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would be “the most effective way forward” amid stalled diplomatic attempts to end the war as he celebrated Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Despite US President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia ruled out any immediate Putin-Zelensky meeting.
Addressing the nation during the Independence Day Celebrations, Zelensky emphasized the need for a just peace where Ukraine’s future would be decided by its citizens. “We need a just peace, a peace where our future will be decided only by us,” he said, adding that Ukraine was “not a victim, it is a fighter”.
He continued, “Ukraine has not yet won, but it has certainly not lost.”
Zelensky renewed calls for a bilateral summit with Putin, noting that the “format of talks between leaders is the most effective way forward”.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Western countries of seeking “a pretext to block negotiations” and slammed Zelensky for “demanding an immediate meeting at all costs”. Zelensky vowed to push Russia to peace, speaking at a ceremony attended by US envoy Keith Kellogg.
“This is how Ukraine strikes when its calls for peace are ignored,” he said. “Today, both the US and Europe agree: Ukraine has not yet fully won, but it will certainly not lose. Ukraine has secured its independence. Ukraine is not a victim; it is a fighter”.
Zelensky highlighted the potential importance of foreign troops in Ukraine once the war ends, as Kyiv seeks to work on security guarantees with its allies. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, visiting Kyiv, emphasized that it’s not “the choice of Russia how the future sovereignty, independence, liberty of Ukraine is guaranteed”.
Zelensky thanked world leaders, including Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s King Charles, and Pope Leo, for sending messages to mark the occasion.
