President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine by directly accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of attempting to seize control of the country, declaring that Moscow had failed to achieve this objective along with its other wartime goals.
In a video address released on the occasion, Zelensky highlighted scenes of Ukrainian resistance in the opening days of the conflict four years earlier, framing the nation’s ongoing struggle as a successful defence against subjugation.
“Putin has not achieved his goals. He did not break the Ukrainians. He did not win this war. We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to achieve peace — and to ensure there is justice,” Zelensky said in his address.
“We want peace. Strong, dignified, and lasting peace,” Zelensky said, adding that any agreement “must not simply be signed, it must be accepted by Ukrainians”.
The invasion, launched on February 24, 2022, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and remains the deadliest conflict on European soil since World War II. Large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine have been devastated, leaving the country facing an enormous reconstruction effort estimated at around $588 billion over the next decade, according to a recent joint World Bank, EU, and UN report published with Kyiv.
Renewed US-mediated talks between the two sides, relaunched last year, have so far failed to stop the fighting. Russia continues to occupy approximately 20 percent of Ukrainian territory and insists on full control of the eastern Donetsk region as a precondition for any settlement, threatening to seize it by force if Kyiv refuses to concede at the negotiating table.
Ukraine has firmly rejected these demands and maintains that no agreement can be reached without robust security guarantees from Western allies, including the United States, to prevent future Russian aggression.
Moscow has intensified attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in recent months, depriving millions of heating and electricity during winter. In response, Western countries have imposed severe sanctions on Russia, redirecting its major oil exports toward Asian markets.
Despite heavy casualties, Russian forces have made gradual advances in recent months, particularly in the eastern Donbas region, which Moscow seeks to annex.
Russia has rejected Ukrainian proposals for European troop deployment in Ukraine following any ceasefire, with President Vladimir Putin repeatedly warning that he will pursue his aims through military means if diplomacy fails.
On Monday, during a medal ceremony for “Defenders of the Fatherland Day,” Putin described his forces as defending Russia’s “borders” to maintain “strategic parity” among global powers and secure the country’s future.
Ukraine views the war as a revival of Russian imperialism aimed at suppressing Ukrainian independence and identity.
In an interview with AFP last week ahead of the anniversary, Zelensky asserted that Ukraine is not losing the war and urged European nations to deploy troops directly on the front line in the event of any ceasefire to deter renewed Russian attacks.
Leaders from several of Ukraine’s key allies, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, visited the country on Tuesday to commemorate the anniversary. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also attended, reaffirming Europe’s steadfast support.
“And to send a clear message to the Ukrainian people and to the aggressor alike: we will not relent until peace is restored. Peace on Ukraine’s terms,” she said in a video posted to social media.
Von der Leyen is scheduled to participate in a commemoration ceremony, visit a Ukrainian energy facility damaged by Russian strikes, meet with Zelensky, and join a videoconference with Kyiv’s allies, including Britain, France, and Germany.
