Ukraine on Sunday marked 34 years since its independence, as Russia accused the nation of launching drone assaults that sparked a hearth at a nuclear energy plant in its western Kursk area in a single day.
The weekend’s developments come as U.S. Vice President JD Vance mentioned in an interview that he believes “the Russians have made important concessions to President Trump for the primary time in three and a half years of this battle.”
“They’ve really been prepared to be versatile on a few of their core calls for,” Vance mentioned in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. “They’ve talked about what can be essential to finish the warfare. In fact, they have not been fully there but, or the warfare can be over. However we’re partaking on this diplomatic course of in good religion.”
President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders final week on the White Home, which Zelenskyy praised as “real unity.”
Vance, who was current at Monday’s assembly, informed “Meet the Press” on Sunday that “we try to barter as a lot as we are able to with each the Russians and the Ukrainians to discover a center floor to cease the killing.”
Nevertheless, Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov additionally appeared on “Meet the Press,” saying there isn’t any deliberate assembly between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Putin is able to meet with Zelenskyy when the agenda can be prepared for a summit, and this agenda isn’t prepared in any respect,” Lavrov mentioned.
Moscow accuses Ukraine of concentrating on energy plant
Russian officers mentioned a number of energy and power services had been focused within the in a single day strikes. The fireplace on the nuclear facility was rapidly extinguished with no accidents reported, in response to the plant’s press service on Telegram. Whereas the assault broken a transformer, radiation ranges remained inside regular ranges.
The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog mentioned it was conscious of media studies {that a} transformer on the plant had caught hearth “because of army exercise,” however hadn’t acquired unbiased affirmation. It mentioned its director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, mentioned “each nuclear facility should be protected always.”
Ukraine didn’t instantly touch upon the alleged assault.
Firefighters additionally responded to a blaze on the port of Ust-Luga in Russia’s Leningrad area, house to a serious gasoline export terminal. The regional governor mentioned roughly 10 Ukrainian drones had been shot down, with particles igniting the hearth.
Russia’s Protection Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory in a single day into Sunday.
Russia fired 72 drones and decoys, together with a cruise missile, into Ukraine in a single day into Sunday, Ukraine’s air pressure mentioned. Of those, 48 drones had been shot down or jammed.
One other wartime Independence Day
The incidents occurred as Ukraine marked Independence Day, commemorating its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. Zelenskyy delivered remarks in a video handle from Kyiv’s Independence Sq., emphasizing the nation’s resolve.
“We’re constructing a Ukraine that may have sufficient power and energy to reside in safety and peace,” Zelenskyy mentioned, calling for a “simply peace.”
“What our future will likely be is as much as us alone,” he mentioned, in a nod to the U.S.–Russia summit in Alaska earlier in August, which many feared would depart Ukrainian and European pursuits sidelined.
“And the world is aware of this. And the world respects this. It respects Ukraine. It perceives Ukraine as an equal,” he mentioned.
U.S. particular envoy Keith Kellogg was in attendance at Independence Day celebrations in Kyiv, throughout which Zelenskyy awarded him the Ukrainian Order of Benefit, of the primary diploma.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kyiv on Sunday morning for conferences with Zelenskyy.
“On this special occasion — Ukraine’s Independence Day — it’s particularly vital for us to really feel the assist of our pals. And Canada has all the time stood by our facet,” wrote Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of employees.
Army support and prayers for peace
In a joint information convention with Zelenskyy, Carney mentioned Canada will make investments CA$2 billion (about US$1.44 billion) in new army help for Ukraine to spice up its military and supply urgently wanted weapons.
Zelenskyy mentioned the 2 leaders had been contemplating the presence of Canadian forces on the bottom in Ukraine as a part of a reassurance pressure.
Efrem Lukatsky / AP
Norway introduced important new army support Sunday, pledging about 7 billion kroner (about US$695 million) for air protection programs. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Retailer mentioned Norway and Germany are collectively funding two Patriot programs, together with missiles, with Norway additionally serving to procure air protection radar.
Pope Leo XIV prayed Sunday for peace in Ukraine as he marked the nation’s Independence Day with a particular attraction throughout his weekly midday blessing. He mentioned the trustworthy had been becoming a member of Ukrainians “asking that the Lord give peace to their martyred nation.”
Leo additionally despatched a telegram to Zelenskyy, which the Ukrainian chief posted on X together with comparable notes from different world leaders.
Within the letter, Leo assured his prayers for all Ukrainians who’re struggling and wrote: “I implore the Lord to maneuver the hearts of individuals of fine will, that the clamor of arms could fall silent and provides strategy to dialogue, opening the trail to peace for the great of all.”
A warfare of attrition
In the meantime, Russia’s troops continued their push in jap and northern Ukraine, the place Russia claimed Saturday that its forces had seized two villages within the Donetsk area. The Predominant Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Protection Ministry mentioned Sunday that Ukraine had taken again management of the village of Novomykhailivka, additionally within the Donetsk area.
Russia’s Protection Ministry mentioned Sunday that 146 Russian servicemen had been returned from Ukraine, in change for a similar variety of Ukrainian servicemen. The ministry mentioned the most recent change additionally included eight residents of Russia’s Kursk area, which was topic to a shock Ukrainian incursion in August 2024, who had been returned to Russia after being held in Ukraine.
Shortly after the Russian announcement, Zelenskyy mentioned that “our persons are coming house.” He mentioned these being exchanged included members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Nationwide Guard, the State Border Guard Service and civilians. “Most of them had been in captivity since 2022,” he mentioned.
Zelenskyy didn’t verify the variety of prisoners concerned within the change.
