Kiev marks its independence amidst dwindling hopes for peace settlement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated his fellow countrymen on Ukraine's Independence Day, marking three and a half years into the war with Russia. In a speech from Independence Square in Kyiv, Zelensky stated that the war has led to a new sense of self-worth among Ukrainians, who now take their fate into their own hands and are ready to fight for their freedom.
The performance of one block of the nuclear power plant was reduced by half due to a drone attack. Meanwhile, Ukraine has recently intensified its own drone production program and has presented a new missile, the Flamingo, which has a range of up to 3,000 kilometers. Ukraine responds to these attacks by targeting fuel depots and military airfields deep in Russia.
In recent weeks, drone attacks have severely disrupted Russia's fuel supply, with several hits reported again last night, including a terminal of the Kremlin-linked oil and gas producer Novatek in the Russian Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga near St. Petersburg. A combat drone was shot down near a nuclear power plant in the western Russian region of Kursk, damaging a transformer for the power supply.
Despite direct negotiations at lower levels making little progress, there have been regular prisoner exchanges, with 146 Russian soldiers and an equal number of Ukrainians released on Sunday, according to Russian reports.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that the circle of guarantors should be expanded beyond Europe, with the US being an important part. Around 30 states have expressed their willingness to support Ukraine, including Japan and Canada. France, the United Kingdom, and a few smaller European countries have expressly declared their readiness to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, including the deployment of troops as part of a "coalition of the willing." The United States is willing to offer protection similar to NATO's Article 5 but has ruled out deploying ground troops, focusing instead on material and air support.
The prospects for a quick peace are bleak due to ongoing mutual attacks. US President Trump suggested a meeting between Ukrainian President Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, but hopes for this meeting have largely faded following a response from Moscow. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that such a meeting would need to be well-prepared and repeated known demands that resemble conditions for Ukraine's surrender rather than a genuine peace offer.
The performance of the Ukrainian military has been hindered by the Ministry of Defense's approval process, preventing Ukraine from using the ATACMS missiles delivered by the USA against targets in Russia since late spring. A media report suggests that the Pentagon has been blocking the use of longer-range missiles by Ukraine for attacks on targets in Russia for months.
Zelensky mentioned daily air strikes by Russia against civilian facilities such as hospitals and schools in Ukraine. Despite these challenges, Zelensky's speech was broadcast on Telegram from Independence Square in Kyiv, with the Statue of Liberty on the Maidan serving as a symbol of Ukraine's indestructibility.
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