Four years have passed since the war between Russia and Ukraine began. On this occasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia has failed to break Ukraine’s morale or win the war it started. He also praised the Ukrainian people for showing “extraordinary courage” throughout the conflict.
In his address on Tuesday, he recalled the Russian invasion that began on February 24, 2022, saying that Ukraine has successfully defended its independence. Despite heavy attacks on energy infrastructure during the winter and a lack of progress in peace negotiations, he said Ukraine remains steadfast.
“We have preserved our independence. Our statehood has not been lost,” he said.
He added, “Vladimir Putin has not achieved his goals. He could not break the Ukrainian people, nor could he win this war.”
European Support and International Commitment
On the anniversary of the Russia–Ukraine war, more than a dozen senior European officials visited Kyiv. Among them were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to continue providing political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support to Ukraine. Von der Leyen stated that a proposed €90 billion loan package would be implemented in some form, although the proposal has faced obstruction from Hungary.
Leaders of the G7 also reiterated their “unwavering support” for Ukraine. In a joint statement, they expressed support for peace negotiations being mediated by the United States under President Donald Trump, emphasizing that Europe would play a key role in the process.
Territorial Control and State of the War
Currently, Russia controls approximately 19.5 percent of Ukrainian territory, including about 7 percent that had already been occupied before 2022. However, since 2023, its progress has slowed and come at a high cost.
The war began after Russia sought to annex the mineral-rich Donbas region in eastern Ukraine into its territory.
According to the Washington-based think tank Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces have captured 0.79 percent of Ukrainian territory over the past year, marking their largest advance since 2022.
Efforts Toward Peace Talks
Since January, direct talks between Russia and Ukraine have been underway with mediation from the United States. However, no agreement has been reached on territorial issues or security guarantees.
Russia has set a key condition that Ukraine must relinquish the industrial hub of Donbas, but Ukraine has rejected this demand. Kyiv has made it clear that it will not sign any agreement without firm security guarantees from the United States and its allies to prevent future Russian aggression.
President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is ready to do everything possible for peace but will not betray the sacrifices made during the war.
“We want a strong, dignified, and lasting peace,” he said. “Any agreement must be acceptable to the Ukrainian people.”
Meanwhile, the strategic studies think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that between February 2022 and December 2025, Russia has lost approximately 325,000 soldiers — considered its largest military loss since World War II.
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that not all war objectives have been fully achieved but stated that the fight would continue as long as necessary. He accused Ukraine and its allies of “pushing themselves toward the edge.”
According to Al Jazeera, streets in Ukraine appeared quiet on the anniversary of the war. A few dozen people gathered in a central square to observe a moment of silence.
“War fatigue is clearly visible among many Ukrainians,” Al Jazeera reported.
Forty-eight-year-old Svitlana Yur said, “It doesn’t seem like this will end soon. Russia hates us and can do anything to destroy us.”
