Ukraine wants peace but will not just give in to Russia at any price, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a defiant speech on Monday as foreign leaders gathered in Kyiv to mark its Independence Day celebrations.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa were among the foreign dignitaries present for celebrations of the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s break from the Soviet Union.
Burnham, making his first visit to the Ukrainian capital as prime minister, was due to announce British support to help Kyiv boost its domestic production of long-range missiles.
He was also scheduled to co-chair a virtual meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” — a group of countries backing Ukraine — with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The leaders were expected to discuss Ukraine’s request for more air defence systems to stop Russian ballistic missiles pounding Ukrainian cities.
“Ukraine absolutely wants peace, but it is not ready to simply surrender,” Zelenskiy said in his video address posted on Telegram, which showed him standing in front of the golden-domed St Michael’s monastery.
US-led peace talks to bring a lasting end to the war stalled as Ukraine refused Russian demands to cede more territory, and fighting continues along a 750-mile (1,200-km) front line.
Zelenskiy highlighted the achievements of Ukraine’s defence industry during the war, including strikes with naval drones and mid- and long-range strikes deep inside Russia, but said there was more work to do.
He urged Ukrainian arms manufacturer Fire Point to accelerate production of its Flamingo cruise missile to take the fight to Russia this winter.
Burnham signalled on Monday he would allow the use of classified British technology for Kyiv to start production of European SCALP long-range cruise missiles by Ukraine.
The Kremlin said the use of classified British technology would “add fuel to the fire”, and has warned London of “consequences” for supplying drones to Kyiv.
