“The presence on the ground—the presence of soldiers—is important to us,” Zelensky said during a ceremony marking Ukraine’s Independence Day.
The event, held in the capital, Kyiv, was attended by U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney also joined a joint press conference with the Ukrainian president, where he called for an immediate ceasefire. “It is not Russia that will decide how to guarantee Ukraine’s future sovereignty, independence, and freedom,” Carney said. “That is Ukraine’s decision—and the decision of its partners,” stated the Canadian PM.
Zelensky is currently seeking Trump’s support to end the three-and-a-half-year-long war with Russia.
Later on Sunday, U.S. Vice President Vance rejected suggestions that Moscow is stalling efforts toward a possible peace deal. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press program with Kristen Welker, he said: “I think the Russians, after three and a half years of conflict, have made significant concessions to President Trump for the first time.” He added: “In fact, they were willing to be flexible on some of their fundamental demands.”
