Four years after Russian tanks rolled across Ukraine’s borders, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a blunt message to Moscow: Ukraine is still standing.
“We have defended our independence, we have not lost our statehood,” the Ukrainian President said on social media, marking the grim anniversary of the invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin, he added, has “not achieved his goals.”
“He has not broken Ukrainians; he has not won this war,” Zelenskyy said.
According to the Associated Press, Zelenskyy’s remarks came as more than a dozen senior European dignitaries arrived in Kyiv in a show of solidarity with Ukraine. The war, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, has reshaped Europe’s security landscape and stirred fears about Moscow’s broader ambitions.
Despite Russia’s larger and better-equipped military, Ukraine has held its ground. Over the past year, Russian forces captured just 0.79 per cent of Ukrainian territory, according to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War. Moscow now controls nearly 20 per cent of Ukraine, but advances have slowed.
Standing at a makeshift memorial in Kyiv’s central square — where thousands of small flags mark the graves of fallen soldiers — Zelenskyy reflected on the toll of the conflict.
“I would like President [Donald] Trump to come and see,” he said, referring to his US counterpart. “Only then can one truly understand what this war is really about.”
Asked how the prolonged war had changed him personally, Zelenskyy offered a stark response: “I don’t have time for friends or friendships.”
The Ukrainian President also signalled potential diplomatic movement, saying he expected a fresh round of US-brokered talks with Russia within the next 10 days.
Meanwhile, Russia’s aerial bombardments have repeatedly targeted infrastructure, leaving civilians without electricity and water. A recent report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that casualties on both sides — killed, wounded or missing — could approach 2 million by spring.
As the war grinds into its fifth year, diplomatic efforts remain stalled. The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire and a comprehensive peace, passing a resolution that reaffirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States abstained from the vote.
The Kremlin has shown no sign of backing down. Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s military campaign would continue in pursuit of Moscow’s objectives, including Ukraine renouncing its NATO ambitions and ceding territory.
Yet European leaders insist the war’s consequences extend beyond Ukraine’s borders. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called it “a nightmare” not only for Ukrainians but for all of Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron described the invasion as “a triple failure for Russia: military, economic, and strategic.”
(With inputs from Associated Press)
