KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that Ukraine would not betray the sacrifices made over four years of war to reach an unfavorable peace deal with Russia. Commemorating the four-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale military invasion on February 24, 2022, Zelensky declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin “has not achieved his goals” and that Russia has failed to subjugate the Ukrainian people or win.
Divisions Within the Pro-Ukraine Bloc
As the four-year anniversary of the war is observed, European nations are struggling to reach consensus. Expectations for a new package of sanctions against Russia and a €90 billion loan to support Kyiv were vetoed by Hungary. Both Hungary and Slovakia also accused Ukraine of obstructing Russian oil flow via the Druzhba pipeline, although Kyiv explained that the pipeline sustained damage after a Russian attack last month and is undergoing repairs.
At the commemoration ceremony in Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was expected to attend, but notably, this year saw no presence of high-ranking Western leaders as in previous years, indicating shifts in international support.
Invitation to President Trump and Negotiation Deadlock
President Zelensky extended an invitation to former President Donald Trump to visit Kyiv to witness the reality of the war firsthand. He emphasized that only by seeing the lives and hardships of the Ukrainian people directly can the international community truly understand the nature of this conflict.
U.S.-mediated peace talks remain deadlocked due to disagreements over territorial issues. Moscow demands that Ukraine cede the remaining part of the Donetsk province it controls, while Kyiv adamantly refuses to give up land that thousands of soldiers have sacrificed to defend. President Zelensky affirmed: “We want peace – a strong, dignified, and sustainable peace,” and called on negotiators not to erase or diminish the value of the sacrifices made over the past four years.
Heavy Casualties and Statements from Leaders
The war has caused heavy damage, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides killed or wounded, and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians dead. Many cities have endured missile and drone attacks for years. French President Emmanuel Macron noted that Russia has paid a heavy price for its limited territorial gains, while Polish President Karol Nawrocki stated that Russia's military actions pose a serious threat to European security.
Four years after the war began, Ukraine enters its fifth year of conflict with a commitment to continue fighting and defending its sovereignty.
