Four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine marks a grim anniversary as President Volodymyr Zelensky declares that Vladimir Putin has failed to break the country and vows to seek a “strong, dignified, and lasting” peace on Ukraine’s terms.
In a video address to the nation on the fourth anniversary of the February 2022 invasion, Zelensky said Ukraine had “preserved” its statehood and would “do everything to achieve peace — and to ensure there is justice.” Any agreement, he added, “must not simply be signed, it must be accepted by Ukrainians.”
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are in Kyiv to meet Zelensky and join commemorations. In a message posted to social media, von der Leyen reiterated that Europe stands “unwaveringly with Ukraine, financially, militarily, and through this harsh winter,” adding: “We will not relent until peace is restored. Peace on Ukraine’s terms.”
The war remains the most devastating conventional conflict in Europe since World War II. According to the United Nations, 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since Russia launched its assault, while Russia still holds roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory after years of grinding combat.
Western military assistance — now led largely by European capitals — has helped blunt Moscow’s ambitions after its initial push to seize Kyiv faltered. By mid-2022, Russian forces retreated from the capital region and were later routed around Kharkiv and Kherson. But hopes for a swift Ukrainian victory dimmed as the Kremlin ordered a partial mobilization, tightened domestic repression and retooled its economy for war.
On the battlefield, drone warfare has come to dominate, eclipsing traditional advantages in infantry and artillery. Russia has intensified barrages of missiles and drones against urban areas and energy infrastructure, making this winter the toughest yet for millions of Ukrainians enduring rolling power and heating outages.
The scale of destruction is vast. The World Bank estimates Ukraine’s reconstruction bill at close to €500 billion, a task likely to span a generation. The war has also reshaped Europe’s security posture: governments have raised defense spending, and NATO expanded with Finland and Sweden joining in 2023.
Even as Kyiv leans on European support, fissures persist. Plans for a 20th European Union sanctions package have stalled, with Hungary opposing new measures against Moscow and a proposed €90 billion EU loan intended to keep Ukraine financially afloat over the next two years. Irish leader Micheál Martin warned that blocking the loan would amount to backing Ukraine’s surrender and said it was “extremely important” to show solidarity.
Diplomatic efforts continue with little visible traction. A U.S.-brokered trilateral process last year relaunched talks, and Ukrainian officials say a fourth round could occur by week’s end. Few in Kyiv expect a breakthrough, especially as Moscow continues to demand control over all of Donbas as the price of ending its invasion.
The broader geopolitical context has shifted as well. The return of Donald Trump to the White House has injected new uncertainty into Western strategy, with some European officials fearing increased pressure on Kyiv to concede territory even as Russia escalates attacks on civilian and energy targets.
Despite the stalemate and sustained bombardment, Zelensky’s message on the anniversary was defiant. “Putin has not achieved his goals. He did not break the Ukrainians. He did not win this war,” he said. “We want peace. Strong, dignified, and lasting peace.”
For Ukrainians who remember the predawn strikes of Feb. 24, 2022, and the headlong rush to fortify their cities, the resolve endures. Temporary delays in foreign aid, leaders in Kyiv say, will not shake a nation that has withstood four years of war — and still guards its future as fiercely as on the invasion’s first day.
Additional reporting: AFP
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
