Zelensky on Ukraine’s Independence Day: “Flamingos” must ‘spend the winter’ in Russia

Ukraine marked 35 years of independence today, and President Volodymyr Zelensky used the national holiday to say Kyiv is prepared to bring the war to a close — but will not accept Moscow’s terms unchanged.

In a roughly 20-minute video message published on Facebook, Zelensky warned Western capitals not to be misled about Russian intentions and set out Kyiv’s refusal to concede territory as part of any quick settlement.

He said Ukraine will not hand over what belongs to it and directly addressed Vladimir Putin with a sharp rebuke. "You wanted to seize our entire Ukraine, our whole country, instead you lost your oil refineries, your fleet, your income, an entire generation that you sent to the slaughterhouse," he said.

Defence industry and winter hopes

Zelensky singled out the role of Ukraine’s defence industry in preserving statehood and expressed optimism that the so-called "Flamingo" missiles will play an important role during the coming winter. He portrayed the weapons as an instrument to strike deep inside Russia.

"Thousands of our strikes deep into Russian territory have already been recorded in Moscow, Tula, Ryazan, Omsk and dozens of other places reached by our Ukrainian justice. Russia must see more of that justice. Flamingos should not be a rare species, but projectiles that come in flocks. They must 'spend the winter' in Russia," he said, using an image meant to underline Kyiv's intent to sustain pressure on Russian targets.

Zelensky's address framed the independence anniversary as a moment of resolve: prepared for peace if terms respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and ready to continue fighting if they do not.

Photo: press material from the event