Ukraine will never agree to territorial concessions – deputy foreign minister of Ukraine

Ukraine will never agree to territorial concessions to Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa told the U.N. Security Council, according to Ukrinform.

“We will never recognize the occupation and will never accept territorial concessions. We will never compromise our freedom,” Betsa said, arguing that Moscow still feels emboldened because it has not faced sufficient consequences for its actions.

She added that despite peace efforts by the United States and European partners, Russia continues to use negotiations as cover for its war. The Kremlin, she said, is demanding that Ukraine withdraw from its own sovereign territory — a position that violates the core U.N. principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine’s goal, Betsa stressed, is a comprehensive and lasting peace based on international law and accountability for aggression.

How Russia's war against Ukraine affects Ukrainian farmers

Russia’s full-scale war continues to create systemic challenges for Ukraine’s agricultural sector, driven by the energy crisis, disrupted logistics, labour shortages and damaged infrastructure, Deputy Economy Minister Taras Vysotsky said, according to Ukrinform. He noted that attacks on port infrastructure have increased transportation and shipping costs, adding further pressure on producers.

Vysotsky stressed that labour shortages remain a serious issue, as many workers have joined the armed forces, relocated, or left the country. Power outages have also complicated operations, with farms forced to rely on generators, raising electricity costs and affecting final product prices. Low temperatures and winter conditions have added to operational difficulties, particularly in livestock and crop management.

Despite these challenges, Vysotskyi said farmers have largely adapted in the short term and reassured the public that food supplies remain stable. Ukrainians, he emphasized, can remain confident that they will continue to receive high-quality domestic agricultural products.

The first Ukrainian defense plant began operating in the UK

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.K. Valerii Zaluzhnyi announced that the first Ukrainian defense manufacturing facility abroad — a production complex operated by Ukrspecsystems — has begun operations in the United Kingdom.

Zaluzhnyi said the move carries strategic significance, as Ukraine remains under constant threat of Russian airstrikes targeting critical and industrial infrastructure. He emphasized that the launch does not shift the core of Ukraine’s defense industry abroad, but rather expands joint capabilities. Engineering expertise will remain in Ukraine, while production is integrated into the British defense sector to ensure continuity and resilience.

According to the ambassador, the project will also benefit the United Kingdom by strengthening its defense industry, creating jobs, and providing access to battlefield-tested technologies. He described the initiative as a step toward building a new model of industrial partnership and contributing to the foundations of a renewed European security architecture.