Ukraine marks Independence Day as Vance says Russia has made " significant concessions"

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Ukraine connected Sunday marked 34 years since its independence, arsenic Russia accused the state of launching drone attacks that sparked a occurrence astatine a atomic powerfulness works successful its occidental Kursk portion overnight.

The weekend's developments travel arsenic U.S. Vice President JD Vance said successful an interview that helium believes "the Russians person made important concessions to President Trump for the archetypal clip successful 3 and a fractional years of this conflict."

"They've really been consenting to beryllium flexible connected immoderate of their halfway demands," Vance said successful an interrogation with NBC's "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday. "They've talked astir what would beryllium indispensable to extremity the war. Of course, they haven't been wholly determination yet, oregon the warfare would beryllium over. But we're engaging successful this diplomatic process successful bully faith."

President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders past week astatine the White House, which Zelenskyy praised arsenic "genuine unity."

Vance, who was contiguous astatine Monday's meeting, told "Meet the Press" connected Sunday that "we are trying to negociate arsenic overmuch arsenic we tin with some the Russians and the Ukrainians to find a mediate crushed to halt the killing."

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov besides appeared connected "Meet the Press," saying determination is nary planned gathering betwixt Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Putin is acceptable to conscionable with Zelenskyy erstwhile the docket would beryllium acceptable for a summit, and this docket is not acceptable astatine all," Lavrov said.

Moscow accuses Ukraine of targeting powerfulness plant

Russian officials said respective powerfulness and vigor facilities were targeted successful the overnight strikes. The occurrence astatine the atomic installation was rapidly extinguished with nary injuries reported, according to the plant's property work connected Telegram. While the onslaught damaged a transformer, radiation levels remained wrong mean ranges.

The United Nations' atomic watchdog said it was alert of media reports that a transformer astatine the works had caught occurrence "due to subject activity," but hadn't received autarkic confirmation. It said its director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said "every atomic installation indispensable beryllium protected astatine each times."

Ukraine did not instantly remark connected the alleged attack.

Firefighters besides responded to a blaze astatine the larboard of Ust-Luga successful Russia's Leningrad region, location to a large substance export terminal. The determination politician said astir 10 Ukrainian drones were changeable down, with debris igniting the fire.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its aerial defenses intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones implicit Russian territory overnight into Sunday.

Russia fired 72 drones and decoys, on with a cruise missile, into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukraine's aerial unit said. Of these, 48 drones were changeable down oregon jammed.

Another wartime Independence Day

The incidents occurred arsenic Ukraine marked Independence Day, commemorating its 1991 declaration of independency from the Soviet Union. Zelenskyy delivered remarks successful a video code from Kyiv's Independence Square, emphasizing the nation's resolve.

"We are gathering a Ukraine that volition person capable spot and powerfulness to unrecorded successful information and peace," Zelenskyy said, calling for a "just peace."

"What our aboriginal volition beryllium is up to america alone," helium said, successful a motion to the U.S.–Russia acme successful Alaska earlier successful August, which galore feared would permission Ukrainian and European interests sidelined.

"And the satellite knows this. And the satellite respects this. It respects Ukraine. It perceives Ukraine arsenic an equal," helium said.

U.S. peculiar envoy Keith Kellogg was successful attendance astatine Independence Day celebrations successful Kyiv, during which Zelenskyy awarded him the Ukrainian Order of Merit, of the archetypal degree.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived successful Kyiv connected Sunday greeting for meetings with Zelenskyy.

"On this peculiar time — Ukraine's Independence Day — it is particularly important for america to consciousness the enactment of our friends. And Canada has ever stood by our side," wrote Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's main of staff.

Military assistance and prayers for peace

In a associated quality league with Zelenskyy, Carney said Canada volition put CA$2 cardinal (about US$1.44 billion) successful caller subject assistance for Ukraine to boost its service and supply urgently needed weapons.

Zelenskyy said the 2 leaders were considering the beingness of Canadian forces connected the crushed successful Ukraine arsenic portion of a reassurance force.

Norway announced important caller subject assistance Sunday, pledging astir 7 cardinal kroner (about US$695 million) for aerial defence systems. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Norway and Germany are jointly backing 2 Patriot systems, including missiles, with Norway besides helping procure aerial defence radar.

Pope Leo XIV prayed Sunday for bid successful Ukraine arsenic helium marked the country's Independence Day with a peculiar entreaty during his play noon blessing. He said the faithful were joining Ukrainians "asking that the Lord springiness bid to their martyred country."

Leo besides sent a telegram to Zelenskyy, which the Ukrainian person posted connected X on with akin notes from different satellite leaders.

In the letter, Leo assured his prayers for each Ukrainians who are suffering and wrote: "I implore the Lord to determination the hearts of radical of bully will, that the clamor of arms whitethorn autumn soundless and springiness mode to dialogue, opening the way to bid for the bully of all."

A warfare of attrition

Meanwhile, Russia's troops continued their propulsion successful eastbound and bluish Ukraine, wherever Russia claimed Saturday that its forces had seized 2 villages successful the Donetsk region. The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Sunday that Ukraine had taken backmost power of the colony of Novomykhailivka, besides successful the Donetsk region.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Sunday that 146 Russian servicemen had been returned from Ukraine, successful speech for the aforesaid fig of Ukrainian servicemen. The ministry said the latest speech besides included 8 residents of Russia's Kursk region, which was taxable to a astonishment Ukrainian incursion successful August 2024, who were returned to Russia aft being held successful Ukraine.

Shortly aft the Russian announcement, Zelenskyy said that "our radical are coming home." He said those being exchanged included members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service and civilians. "Most of them had been successful captivity since 2022," helium said.

Zelenskyy did not corroborate the fig of prisoners progressive successful the exchange.

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