KYIV (UPDATE) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday vowed in an Independence Day address that his country would fight Russia's invasion "until the end" and would not be making "any concession or compromise".

"We don't care what army you have, we only care about our land. We will fight for it until the end," Zelensky said in a video address on Wednesday, which also marks six months since the invasion began.

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"We have been holding strong for six months. It's tough but we have clenched our fists and we are fighting for our destiny," he said.

"Every new day is a reason not to give up. After such a long journey we do not have the right not to go on to the end," he said.

Referring to Russia, he added: "We will not try to find an understanding with terrorists.

"For us, Ukraine is the whole of Ukraine. All 25 regions, without any concession or compromise."

Close to 20 foreign delegations in the Philippines expressed their "greater resolve than ever to stand with Ukraine" as they commemorate the 31st anniversary of Ukraine's independence in light of what they regard as "the ongoing brutal, unprovoked, and unjustifiable war of aggression of the Russian Federation."

"We condemn and will not recognize Russia’s continued attempts to re-draw borders by force, which is a blatant violation of international law, and breach of the United Nations Charter," a joint statement of the embassies of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and many others read.

They said "Russia's illegal war" affected the Philippines, "through increases in the prices of fuel, food, fertilizer, and other essential commodities."

"These effects are exacerbating poverty during a critical period of the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic," the diplomats said.

They hailed the Ukrainian people for their courage and resolve to defend their country "and in their fight for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future."

- with report from ABS-CBN News

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© Agence France-Presse

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