Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed on Sunday that at least 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have lost their lives in the ongoing war with Russia, debunking higher casualty claims made by Russia. The number of civilian deaths in occupied territories was also highlighted by Zelensky. The exact count by US officials estimates around 70,000 soldiers killed and nearly double that wounded.

The conflict has caused hesitation in admitting the true toll, with varying figures from Ukrainian authorities. The head of Ukraine's armed forces previously stated 9,000 casualties, while former Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov believed the number to be in the tens of thousands. Meanwhile, Russia has reportedly lost 87% of its active-duty ground troops since the invasion began.

President Zelensky expressed hope for additional military aid from the United States, emphasizing the need for air defense systems. US President Joe Biden has urged Congress to pass aid for Ukraine, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer echoing the call during his visit to the country.

Addressing the nation after the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion, Zelensky emphasized the necessity of Ukraine prevailing in the conflict against Russia. He thanked Ukrainians for their resilience and suggested the possibility of a peace summit in Switzerland later this spring, albeit with skepticism on Russia's acceptance of any proposed peace plan.

In other developments, Ukrainian top prosecutor mentioned that 350 war crimes cases are currently before the courts, with 512 Russian suspects identified. Eighty verdicts have been issued, and over 20 countries, including the United States, are investigating potential Russian crimes against Ukrainian citizens.

During the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, stressing the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.