Amidst Ukraine's 34th independence anniversary, President Zelenskyy continues to push for a meeting with Putin, calling it the most effective path to peace. While Russia initially rejected a summit, Zelenskyy remains persistent. Despite conflicting reports on battlefield gains in eastern Ukraine and Russia's accusations of Ukrainian drone attacks, including one near a nuclear plant, both sides exchanged 146 prisoners of war. The US reportedly placed restrictions on Ukraine's use of US-supplied missiles, leading Zelenskyy to utilize domestically produced long-range weapons. Meanwhile, Canada pledged support for Ukraine's security guarantees and potential international involvement in a peace deal, including drone co-production.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.