Ukraine War Enters Fifth Year Without Russian Victory Declared

European Leaders Visit Ukraine to Mark War’s Fourth Anniversary

A group of senior European officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, traveled to Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The visit coincided with a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who praised Ukrainians for their resilience in the face of ongoing attacks.

Zelenskyy stated that Moscow has failed to break the Ukrainian spirit or win the war it started, saying “We have defended our independence. We have not lost our statehood.” He also reiterated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not achieved his goals and that Ukraine is ready to do everything necessary to secure peace.

The European Union pledged continued support for Ukraine, with von der Leyen stating that the bloc will deliver a planned 90-billion-euro loan, which has been blocked by Hungary. The Group of Seven powers reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, with leaders calling for an unconditional ceasefire.

Over 30 leaders in the Coalition of the Willing supporting Ukraine have also called for Russia to agree to a ceasefire. However, peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine remain stalled, with both sides failing to reach agreement on key issues such as territory and security guarantees.

According to analysts, the war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, upended life for millions of Ukrainians, and sparked far-reaching security concerns across Europe. The number of soldiers killed, wounded, or missing could reach two million by spring.

In a joint statement, leaders emphasized the importance of ongoing peace negotiations led by US President Donald Trump, which they said Europe had a leading role to play in. Zelenskyy also called on the EU to accelerate Ukraine’s admission to the union, stating that any agreement must be accepted by Ukrainians.

Source: Al Jazeera