On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the strong cultural bond among Ukrainians serves as a powerful force in uniting and defending against the enemy, comparable to their weapons.

Zelenskyy spoke at the ceremony for the Taras Shevchenko National Prize, Ukraine’s top cultural award. He thanked cultural leaders who help maintain the history and cultural identity of the Ukrainian people through their works, art and teaching.

“To achieve nationhood and statehood, a human community must have individuals with selfless hearts. These hearts have the power to connect with others, show compassion, and promote understanding. They bring people together, offer protection, and can even serve in times of crisis. Ultimately, we can all find common ground and proudly identify as Ukrainians,” stated the speaker.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to those currently on the front lines, as well as those supporting them.

Papal message

Pope Francis urged Ukraine to summon the bravery to engage in negotiations and bring an end to the ongoing conflict with Russia, which has been ongoing for three years.

The pope was asked about Ukraine’s surrender to Russian forces in an interview with Swiss broadcaster RSI last month. In a transcript and video released by Reuters on Saturday, he commented on whether surrendering would legitimize the actions of the strongest party.

The interviewer mentioned the phrase “white flag” to describe the peace negotiations initiated by Ukraine.

Francis acknowledged that it is one possible viewpoint. He also suggested that the most effective approach would involve considering the circumstances and people involved, and having the bravery to seek a peaceful resolution. He further stated that discussions should involve the assistance of global authorities.

The scheduled air date for the interview is March 20th.

A representative for Zelenskyy did not promptly reply to a comment request regarding the pope’s statement.

Zelenskyy stated his desire for peace, but maintains he will not concede any land. The Kremlin has rejected the idea of participating in peace negotiations based on Kyiv’s conditions.

Turkey will be the location of a summit focused on promoting peace.

Pope Francis shared his thoughts prior to the recent news from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he plans to host a summit for peace between Ukraine and Russia. Erdogan announced his intentions after meeting with Zelenskyy in Istanbul.

“I am reaffirming our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and working towards resolving the war through negotiations,” stated Erdogan, emphasizing the commitment of Ankara to the cause.

A diplomatic source from Ankara has stated that they will continue to strongly support the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine, including Crimea. This reaffirmation will be emphasized once again.

The previous week, the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Hakan Fidan, called for discussions on a cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia following a meeting with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister. He emphasized that these talks should not be seen as an endorsement of Russia’s occupation.

Ankara is trying to maintain a balance between Ukraine and Russia by proposing to facilitate peace negotiations. At the same time, it is maintaining its defense industry connections with Ukraine and strengthening its partnership in the energy sector with Russia. Furthermore, Ankara has signed an agreement to participate in the reconstruction efforts in Ukraine after the war.

Russian attacks continue

According to Ukrainian officials, three individuals, including a 16-year-old male, lost their lives in Russian assaults using artillery in the town of Chervonohryhorivka situated on the opposite side of the Dnipro River from the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Additionally, a 7-year-old child was injured by a Russian explosive that struck a residential area in the southern city of Kherson on Saturday.

The air force of the Russian Defense Ministry reported that they successfully brought down a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter aircraft above Pokrovsk city in the Donetsk region. The city houses a crucial railway intersection and is a primary objective for Russian attacks, especially after Ukrainian troops withdrew from Avdiivka in the previous month. This is a notable setback for Ukraine’s campaign in the war.

On Saturday, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that their military had successfully brought down 41 unmanned aircrafts in the Rostov area, which is where the southern military command is located.

“The Russian army announced on social media that air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed a total of 47 drones, with one in the Belgorod region, two in the Kursk region, three in the Volgograd region, and 41 in the Rostov region.”

No injuries have been reported at this time.

Ukraine downs 12 drones

Kyiv’s air force said earlier it had downed 12 out of 15 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia over the eastern Donetsk region and central Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions.

On Saturday, Ukraine announced that it had evacuated approximately 200 individuals, including 21 children, from villages in the eastern Donetsk region that were affected by ongoing conflict.

The sources for this report include Reuters, The Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse.

Source: voanews.com