Burnham’s visit to Kyiv comes on the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence Day, a holiday that understandably means so much more during the 1,643 days of the full-scale Russian invasion – and counting.
In a special address, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that “things are really very difficult for all of us,” but said the unity of all Ukrainians “is … holding us firmly by the hand.”
“And as long as the enemy does not break this circle of ours, Ukraine will not fall, will achieve its peace, and will succeed,” he said.
He said Russia’s Putin “got the most important thing wrong” when he underestimated the Ukrainian people’s willingness to fight for their country.
“Putin hopes that we are tired. But we know that he is mortal. He never understood us. Now he will not have time to. You wanted to take all our Ukraine, all our land; instead, you lost your oil refineries, your fleet, your profits, your entire generation that you sent into the meat grinder. You wanted us erased from the map; now you are absent from the international agenda of the future civilisation. For 27 years, the head of Russia has talked about greatness, while Russia is standing in lines for gasoline.”
“Putin hopes that we are tired. But we know that he is mortal. He never understood us. Now he will not have time to.
You wanted to take all our Ukraine, all our land; instead, you lost your oil refineries, your fleet, your profits, your entire generation that you sent into the meat grinder.
You wanted us erased from the map; now you are absent from the international agenda of the future civilisation. For 27 years, the head of Russia has talked about greatness, while Russia is standing in lines for gasoline.”
Zelenskyy also renewed his push for even more help from other European leaders, telling them “we are not asking you to fight for us, [but] to give Ukraine everything it needs to stop this war.”
Expect him to repeat this message to Burnham and other leaders in Kyiv throughout the day.
I will bring you all the latest here.
It’s Monday, 24 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
