Intro: Zelenskiy rejects territorial surrender as Western leaders rally behind Kyiv, while Britain backs Ukraine’s air-defence needs amid fresh Russian attacks.
Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Monday Kyiv wants peace but will not accept surrender or territorial concessions to Russia, as leaders gathered in Kyiv for Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Speaking in a video address, Zelenskiy thanked leaders who travelled to Ukraine and reiterated that his country would not give up territory. He said Russia’s demand that Kyiv cede the Ukrainian-held portion of Donbas would not end Moscow’s aggression.
“Ukraine absolutely wants peace, but it is not ready to simply surrender,” Zelenskiy said, adding that Ukraine would not give away what belongs to it.
The remarks came as Western leaders renewed support for Kyiv. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham made his first visit to the capital and was expected to announce British support for domestic long-range missile production.
Burnham was also due to co-chair a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The group was expected to discuss Ukraine’s request for more air-defence systems.
Zelenskiy highlighted Ukraine’s defence-industry achievements, including naval-drone operations and strikes inside Russia. He urged arms maker Fire Point to speed up production of its Flamingo cruise missile ahead of winter.
Britain also signalled plans to permit classified technology to help Ukraine produce European SCALP cruise missiles domestically. The Kremlin warned that such assistance would escalate the conflict, saying it would “add fuel to the fire.”
With peace talks stalled over Russian territorial demands, Zelenskiy’s message underscored Kyiv’s determination to pursue negotiations without accepting terms it considers surrender.
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