Kyiv, August 24,2026: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed that Ukraine will continue to defend its independence and sovereignty, saying the country will not surrender despite more than four years of full-scale war with Russia.
Addressing the nation on Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day, Zelenskyy said the country’s strength lay in the unity, resilience and determination of its people.
He said Russia had miscalculated by focusing on Ukraine’s resources, weapons and military capabilities while failing to account for the Ukrainian people, whom he described as the greatest achievement of the country’s independence.
Zelenskyy paid tribute to Ukrainian soldiers, saying they had defended Kyiv and liberated areas of the Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson regions while continuing to hold the line in Donbas.
“You will not give up Ukraine. You are the best defenders. You are the best army in Europe,” he said.
The president also praised Ukrainian volunteers, defence workers and civilians for maintaining their humanity and solidarity despite the war, saying their resilience had become a major source of national strength.
He highlighted the expansion of Ukraine’s defence industry, including ground robotic systems, naval drones and long-range strike capabilities, and called for further efforts to strengthen the country’s ability to counter Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine must find solutions to the threat posed by Russian ballistic missiles and increasingly advanced drones. He said Ukraine had already demonstrated its ability to overcome challenges that had initially appeared impossible.
Turning to international support, Zelenskyy called on Ukraine’s partners to provide the military and economic assistance needed to end the war. He urged Europe to remain united and ambitious, while calling on the United States to maintain its support for Kyiv.
He also urged China to take a stronger position against threats of nuclear weapons, saying major global powers had a responsibility to prevent dictators from threatening the world.
Zelenskyy rejected any suggestion that Ukraine should surrender territory in exchange for a quick end to the war, saying Kyiv had no illusions about Russia’s intentions.
“Ukraine absolutely wants peace, but it is not ready to simply surrender,” he said.
The president said Ukraine’s independence had been restored on August 24, 1991, after generations of struggle, and that Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, had put that independence to its greatest test.
He said millions of Ukrainians had answered that challenge by choosing to defend their country, adding that predictions that Ukraine would collapse within days had proven wrong.
“Thirty-five years ago, that day came. And the day when there will be peace in Ukraine will also come,” Zelenskyy said.
He called on Ukrainians to protect their state, remember those who had sacrificed their lives for the country and continue to have faith in one another, the armed forces and Ukraine.
“Happy Independence Day, Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine,” he concluded.
