Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Foreign leaders are arriving in Kyiv to mark the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed the “absolute heroism” of Ukrainian resistance against Russia’s war as the country marked the third anniversary of the invasion on Monday.
“Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians. I am proud of Ukraine! I thank everyone who defends and supports it,” he said in a post on X.
“Everyone who works for Ukraine. And may the memory of all those who gave their lives for our state and people be eternal.”
Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov rejected a quick ceasefire without a settlement being pushed by the US and warned of serious consequences, including for Russia-America relations, if that happened.
“We can recognise with sufficient confidence the desire of the American side to move towards a quick ceasefire,” he was quoted as saying by state media RIA. “We do not want this.”
The US, meanwhile, was reportedly pressuring Ukraine to abandon its draft UN resolution against Russia’s war in the country ahead of a vote on Monday. An unnamed US official and a European diplomat told AP the US was pushing Ukraine to drop the resolution demanding an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces.
This came as Mr Zelensky said he was willing to step down in exchange for Nato membership.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is speaking with the leaders of countries at a ‘Support Ukraine’ event.
We’ll bring you the key lines as they come in.
Russia has said that its consulate in Marseille has been hit by an explosion ‘with all the hallmarks of a terror attack’.
Russia’s consul general in the southern French city Stanislav Oranskiy said on Monday there had been a blast inside the consulate, Russian news outlet RBC reported.
French media earlier reported that an explosion was heard near the Russian consulate in the southern port city and firemen were at the site.
Read Sam Rkaina’s breaking news report:
Reports are emerging of explosions at the Russian consulate general in Marseille.
The explosions have all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS news agency.
Three explosive devices were thrown into the territory of the consulate, the consulate general said according to TASS. One did not explode and there were no casualties.
French media earlier reported explosions heard near the consulate and said the fire service was on site.
Moscow has demanded France use exhaustive resources to investigate the explosions.
Boris Johnson has revealed he is in Ukraine on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion.
“I am proud to be here in Kyiv on the third anniversary of Putin’s invasion,” he said in a post on X.
The former prime minister, a staunch supporter if Kyiv’s defense after war broke out in February 2022, also hit out at US president Donald Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine started the war – while not explicitly calling out Trump.
He wrote: “I salute the continuing heroism of the Ukrainian people in resisting a vile act of unprovoked aggression and I categorically reject the bizarre untruths currently being peddled about the origins of that war.
“I urge people to keep cool and look at the facts of the continuing US support for Ukraine, under Donald Trump, and I remain convinced that Ukraine will have a great future as a free sovereign and independent nation.”
Friedrich Merz, the man highly likely to become Germany’s next chancellor after yesterday’s election, has spoken out on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Three years of Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Three years of war in Europe,” he wrote on X on Monday morning.
“For three years, we have been accompanied by the terrible images of destruction and war crimes. Europe remains firmly on the side of Ukraine.
“Now more than ever, we must put Ukraine in a position of strength. For a just peace, the attacked country must be part of peace negotiations.”
Approach to the Russia-Ukraine war is one of the crucial points of contention between the centre-right CDU/CSU and far-right AfD, with the former ruling out a coalition.
A dozen leaders from Europe and Canada were in Ukraine’s capital on Monday to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
The visitors, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, arrived in Ukraine to attend anniversary events and discuss supporting the country with president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The anniversary was being marked as US policies on Russia and Ukraine shift under President Donald Trump.
Hungary’s foreign minister said the country will not contribute to sanctions against Russians or to paying more money for arms transport to Ukraine ahead of the UN vote.
Péter Szijjártó said there is a chance for peace after three years of war and his country holds the position that only an American-Russian agreement could end the conflict.
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban is widely regarded as the EU’s most pro-Russian leader.
The UN General Assembly is expected to vote Monday on dueling resolutions — Ukraine’s European-backed proposal demanding an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from the country and a US call for a swift end to the war that does not mention Moscow’s aggression.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky praised three years of resistance against Russia’s war in Ukraine as the country marked the third anniversary of the invasion on Monday.
“Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians. I am proud of Ukraine! I thank everyone who defends and supports it,” he said in a post on X.
“Everyone who works for Ukraine. And may the memory of all those who gave their lives for our state and people be eternal.”
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in