Zelensky rejects surrender in Independence Day speech

Ukraine will not surrender to Russia at any price, President Volodymyr Zelensky declared in a defiant Independence Day address on Monday, as foreign leaders gathered in Kyiv to demonstrate continued support for the war-torn nation. Speaking on the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union, Zelensky rejected Russian demands for territorial concessions, arguing they would not guarantee peace. Flanked by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa, Zelensky delivered his message from St. Michael's Square in Kyiv, wearing a traditional embroidered shirt.