Zelensky in Kherson: sing the anthem in front of the Ukrainian flag

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a surprise visit to Kherson. In the city which has just seen the withdrawal of Russian troops. An event, Zelensky defines it himself, which could mark “the beginning of the end of the war. We are ready for peace. Peace for our whole country,” said the President of Ukraine. Who sang the Ukrainian anthem as the flag was raised. “Ukraine paid a high price” to retake Kherson, continues Zelensky: “But it is impossible to kill Ukraine”, he concludes.

The footage shows Zelensky singing the anthem in front of the blue and yellow flag raised in front of the regional administration offices. In the morning, the staff of the Ukrainian president published on Telegram photos of the ceremony accompanied by a concise and meaningful text: “Kherson – Ukraine”, in Ukrainian and English. For its part, the Kremlin specifies in a note that Kherson is still Russian. “Russia is not in a position to dictate its terms” to start negotiations for the end of the war,” Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said on Facebook, as quoted by Ukrinform.

Zelensky in Kherson, the spokesman: “Withdrawal of all Russian troops”

“Ukraine’s peace formula remains unchanged: immediate end to the war, withdrawal of all Russian troops, restoration of Ukrainian territorial integrity, compensation for damages inflicted and effective guarantees of non-recurrence of aggression. Under other conditions, achieving a lasting peace will be impossible. So says the spokesperson. Russia considers Ukraine’s condition that Moscow’s troops withdraw from the country to start negotiations as “unacceptable”. This was stated by Deputy Foreign Minister and former Russian Ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko, quoted by the Interfax agency.