Zelensky urged direct talks with Putin on Independence Day, pledging to “push Russia to peace” amid ongoing prisoner swaps and renewed fighting.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday renewed his call for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing them as “the most effective way forward” as Ukraine marked its Independence Day.
The appeal came after Moscow rejected a U.S.-backed proposal for a summit, insisting no immediate meeting would be held. Despite that, Zelensky declared at a ceremony in Kyiv, “the format of talks between leaders is the most effective way forward,” vowing to “push Russia to peace.”
The anniversary celebration was attended by Western officials, including U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg, who received Ukraine’s Order of Merit. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney also reaffirmed support, saying Russia had no say in Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia exchanged 146 prisoners each, including two Ukrainian journalists. Fighting continued in Donetsk, where Kyiv said it recaptured three villages. Drone strikes also targeted Russia’s Kursk nuclear plant, sparking a fire but no radiation threat.