Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Kyrylo Budanov considers Ukraine's cooperation with the USA decisive for victory over Russia. He emphasizes that cooperation with Washington is key to deterring the aggressor.
Zelenskyy announced a meeting between the Ukrainian and American teams to discuss possible negotiations with Russia. The meeting will take place at the end of the week.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that a ceasefire is a necessary prerequisite for peace talks. He reminded that this idea originally belonged to the Americans.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, stated that Russia does not want to end the war, but is only stalling for time.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Yevhen Khmara as the head of the SBU's Special Operations Center "A". He has been dismissed from the position of head of the Counter-Terrorism Special Operations Center.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Kyiv. Issues of defense, sanctions, energy, and the return of Ukrainian children were discussed.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha responded to statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Sybiha called lectures on legitimacy from a person who has held office for 21 years, serving a ruler for over 25 years, absurd.
Serhiy Leshchenko, advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office, commented on the statement by US Vice President J. D. Vance about the possible end of the war in six months. Leshchenko emphasized that without a ceasefire and stabilization at the front, it is impossible to predict timelines, as the situation is constantly changing.
The European Union will discuss military support for Ukraine this week, including security guarantees. They will also consider the use of proceeds from frozen Russian assets and the 19th package of sanctions.
The long-range version of the Ukrainian cruise missile "Long Neptune", which has been under development since 2023, has been publicly demonstrated for the first time. It can hit the enemy at a distance of up to 1000 km, has an increased fuselage diameter and a length of more than 6 meters.
US Vice President JD Vance reacted to the Russian strike on an American plant in Mukachevo, stating that the administration does not like the actions of the Russians, but Washington seeks peace. He also criticized former President Joe Biden for inaction in ending the war.
The leadership of the Russian Federation promotes the idea of the "Russian world," which includes the former territories of Kyivan Rus' and the USSR. Lavrov stated that Russia will achieve military goals by protecting the rights of Russian speakers and ensuring Ukraine's neutrality.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha responded to Hungarian Minister Szijjártó's criticism regarding Zelenskyy's statements. Sybiha called on Hungary to diversify energy resources and become independent from Russia.
European politicians explained what guarantees EU countries can offer Ukraine. At the moment, peace negotiations without a ceasefire are simply Putin's pipe dream.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that strikes on enterprises with foreign capital that could be used for military purposes are justified, and accused the West of disrupting negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. He also questioned the legitimacy of President Zelenskyy and rejected accusations of attacks on civilian targets.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used a national holiday to threaten Budapest. Szijjártó called on Zelenskyy to stop threatening and attacking energy security.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney inspected the latest Ukrainian weapons and equipment developments. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of developing domestic production for the state's defense.
US Vice President J. D. Vance stated that the Trump administration is considering new sanctions against Russia's oil industry. The goal is to force Moscow to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine using economic pressure.
President Zelenskyy stated that the presence of a foreign contingent is an important part of security guarantees for Ukraine, but it is currently too early to discuss it. He noted that infrastructure must first be prepared, where the Ukrainian army will play a key role.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Russia has no right to choose security guarantees for Ukraine, as it seeks a long war. President Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine needs security guarantees that will protect it from Russian aggression.
President Zelenskyy thanked the military for long-range strikes and announced "good surprises" for Russians in Donbas. Details will be announced by the Commander-in-Chief.
Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange, bringing home servicemen of the Armed Forces, National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and civilians. Most of them had been in captivity since 2022, including journalist Dmytro Khyliuk.
President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine has always sought partnership with Hungary. Now, the further state of these relations depends exclusively on Hungary itself.
President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine uses its own long-range weapons to strike Russian territory. He refuted reports of restrictions from the US, emphasizing that this issue was never discussed.
Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Masashi Nakagome congratulated Ukrainians on Independence Day in Ukrainian. The diplomat confirmed that Japan remains on Ukraine's side, and at the end of his address, he proclaimed: "Glory to Ukraine."
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy celebrated the 34th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence, hosting delegations from Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, and Great Britain. He thanked international partners for their support in the war and emphasized the heroism of Ukrainian soldiers.
President Zelenskyy awarded Keith Kellogg, Special Representative of the US President, the Order of Merit, 1st Class. The award was given for his significant contribution to supporting Ukraine and strengthening bilateral relations.
President Zelenskyy emphasized that Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea are an integral part of Ukraine. He expressed confidence in the future unification of all regions.
Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenka congratulated Ukrainians on Independence Day. He called on them to find their own path to true independence.
On Independence Day, the President of Ukraine honored 126 border guards for their courage, 61 of them posthumously. The awards include the Orders "For Merit", Bohdan Khmelnytsky, "For Courage" and medals.