By — PBS News Weekend PBS News Weekend Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/news-wrap-zelenskyy-marks-ukraines-independence-day-with-ceremonies-in-kyiv Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio In our news wrap Sunday, Ukraine marked 34 years since declaring independence even as its war to repel Russian invaders stretches on, desperation to reach food aid is hitting a new high in Gaza, Israel struck targets in Yemen in retaliation for Houthi attacks, the Pentagon is reportedly planning to deploy troops to Chicago, and 120 teams competed in an international corgi race in Lithuania. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. John Yang: Good evening. I'm John Yang. Today, Ukraine marked 34 years since declaring its independence from the Soviet Union, even as its war to repel Russian invaders stretches on. In Kyiv's Independence Square, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stood with Ukrainian troops for a moment of silence to honor fallen fighters.In St. Sophia Cathedral, Zelenskyy and faith leaders offered a prayer for peace. Then he, his wife and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney placed flowers at a memorial wall dedicated to fallen soldiers.Meanwhile, the path to peace remains uncertain. On NBC's Meet the Press, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov the said that President Vladimir Putin won't be sitting down with Zelenskyy anytime soon. Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister, Russia: Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskyy when the agenda would be ready for a summit, and this agenda is not ready at all. There are several principles which Washington believes must be accepted, including no NATO membership, including the discussion of territorial issues. And Zelenskyy said no to everything. John Yang: Russia said an overnight Ukrainian drone attack started a fire at a nuclear power plant in Kursk. Plant officials said there were no injuries and radiation levels are normal.Despite the fighting, the two countries exchanged prisoners of war, 146 from each side.To the war in Gaza, now, where the desperation to reach food aid is hitting a new high. Witnesses said Israeli troops killed four people who are traveling through a military zone south of Gaza City on their way to a food distribution site. And Gaza's Health Ministry reported eight deaths related to malnutrition, including a child, bringing the total to nearly 300.There are reports that the Pentagon is planning a military deployment to Chicago as part of President Trump's crackdown on crime, homelessness and undocumented immigration.If approved, the mission would have parallels to deployments to Los Angeles and Washington, DC. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, say sending troops is unwelcome and unwarranted. On Friday, the president touted his intervention in Washington and suggested that Chicago could be next, followed by New York City.And Vilnius, Lithuania was the center of the corgi cosmos this weekend as thousands gathered in the city's largest park to watch an international competition that drew 120 teams of the Welsh breed. Corgis from across Europe battled in group races, solo sprints and costume challenges.Lithuanian owned Mango won the solo race. His owner said he knows what he did and he's really proud of himself.Still to come on PBS News Weekend, how scammers create fake identities to steal college financial aid and three brothers rowing across the Pacific Ocean at world record pace. Listen to this Segment Watch Watch the Full Episode PBS NewsHour from Aug 24, 2025 By — PBS News Weekend PBS News Weekend