Tuesday represents the fourth anniversary of Russia’s comprehensive military assault on Ukraine, when forces attacked the nation from several fronts. On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared what he called a “special operation,” a military campaign that most analysts predicted would conclude rapidly with Ukraine’s surrender.
However, European leaders made the journey to Ukraine’s capital city Tuesday to demonstrate their continued backing of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian citizens who continue their resistance.
Although Putin failed to secure the swift and decisive triumph he anticipated, casualties have mounted significantly for both nations. As Europe’s largest military conflict moves into its fifth year, no peace agreement appears imminent despite ongoing U.S. diplomatic initiatives throughout the previous year.
Over a dozen high-ranking European officials touched down in Kyiv Tuesday as a demonstration of solidarity. However, they arrived without two agreements they had intended to deliver to Kyiv — additional sanctions against Russia and a 90 billion euro financial package to support Ukraine’s military efforts over the coming two years.
Hungary, widely regarded as the European Union’s most Russia-friendly member state, prevented both measures from moving forward. This development illustrates the challenges in preserving unity as the conflict continues.
Zelenskyy noted that his nation has survived attacks from Russia’s larger and more advanced military forces, which during the previous year of combat seized only 0.79% of Ukrainian land, based on data from the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based research organization.
“Looking back at the beginning of the invasion and reflecting on today, we have every right to say: we have defended our independence, we have not lost our statehood; (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has not achieved his goals,” Zelenskyy said on social media.
“He has not broken Ukrainians; he has not won this war,” Zelenskyy also said.
