Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a defiant Independence Day speech in Kyiv, pledging to fight for a 'just peace' as the nation marked 33 years of sovereignty. 🔥 The address followed a dramatic escalation in hostilities, with Russia accusing Ukraine of a drone strike on the Kursk nuclear plant—a claim Kyiv has not yet addressed. Russian officials reported reduced reactor capacity and a massive fire at a fuel terminal, raising global nuclear safety concerns. ☢️
Global Allies Rally Behind Ukraine
U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg and Canadian PM Mark Carney joined celebrations, while Norway pledged $696 million in air defense systems. 🛡️ Meanwhile, ex-U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for Ukraine's independence in a letter, per CNN. But Moscow doubled down, calling European troop deployments 'unacceptable' and launching retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian missile storage sites.
Diplomatic Chess Game
Russian FM Sergei Lavrov accused Western nations of 'blocking' peace talks, while Zelenskyy signaled openness to meet Putin—but only after security guarantees are secured. 💬 The war of words mirrors the battlefield: Ukraine seeks deterrence against future attacks; Russia demands total withdrawal of foreign support.
As fireworks lit Kyiv's sky, the stakes felt higher than ever. With 146 areas reportedly targeted in Sunday's Russian strikes, the path to peace remains as volatile as a TikTok trend cycle. 📉💣
