Zelenskyy: Defenses Holding Firm       07/25 06:03

   Ukrainian forces are holding back Russia's concerted summer push to break 
through defenses along parts of the front line, Ukraine's President Volodymyr 
Zelenskyy says.

   KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukrainian forces are holding back Russia's concerted 
summer push to break through defenses along parts of the front line, Ukraine's 
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.

   "They are not advancing. It's very tough for our guys out there. And it's 
tough everywhere," Zelenskyy told reporters on Thursday, in comments embargoed 
till Friday. "It's also very hard for the Russians -- and that's good for us," 
he said.

   With the war now in its fourth year after Russia's February 2022 invasion of 
its neighbor, the effort is draining resources on both sides, although Russia 
has more resources and people to sustain its fight. Ukraine is seeking further 
support from Western partners.

   Russia has claimed the capture of some villages and hamlets, but no 
defensively stronger urban areas have fallen to its troops.

   Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have repeatedly attempted to 
stage minor incursions near the eastern Donetsk city of Pokrovsk to film 
symbolic footage, such as raising a Russian flag, but Ukrainian forces have 
repelled those efforts, Zelenskyy said.

   "It happened five to seven times recently, sometimes with only two or six 
people. Once they tried to hold a position with 12 people -- and all of them 
were eliminated by our defenders," Zelenskyy said.

   Zelenskyy described the situation in the northeastern Sumy border region as 
"much better" than in recent months, noting progress by Ukrainian forces over 
the past six weeks.

   Russia has also intensified its bombardment of Ukrainian cities, and 
Zelenskyy said Ukraine is working with international partners to secure 10 
U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, with three already confirmed from 
Germany and Norway.

   The Trump administration will sell the systems, he said, but Ukraine's task 
is to find funding for all 10. Each system costs more than $1 billion.

   Ukraine is also seeking to obtain a license to manufacture the Patriot 
systems itself.

   The Ukrainian leader expressed little hope for progress in direct talks 
between delegations from Russia and Ukraine, though he said the Kremlin envoys 
have begun discussing the possibility of a leaders' summit with Ukraine.

   "We need an end to the war, which probably begins with a meeting of leaders. 
It won't work any other way with (the Russians)," Zelenskyy said.

   In domestic politics, Zelenskyy said public protests against changes earlier 
this week to Ukraine's anti-corruption law were "legitimate." The changes 
threatened the independence of anti-graft watchdogs and also drew rebukes from 
European Union officials and international rights groups, prompting Zelenskyy 
to propose new legislation to restore the independence of the anti-graft 
agencies.

   "It's very important that society speaks. I respect the opinion of society," 
Zelenskyy said. "People asked for changes. We responded."

   Demonstrators gathered for the third day on Thursday evening, but drew a 
smaller crowd.

   He said those agencies must be "truly independent," adding that "the most 
important thing in this war is the unity of our state. It is critical not to 
lose unity."

   However, the risk now remains that the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's Parliament, 
will fail to approve the new bill, which could bring even larger crowds to the 
streets. Zelenskyy expressed confidence that it would pass. "The most important 
thing right now is that the bill exists. It has been registered. I believe it 
will receive enough votes. I want that to happen," he said.