Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised victory against Russia on Friday on the one-year anniversary of Europe’s largest conflict since World War II, as commemorations were held by Kyiv’s Western allies.
“We endured. We were not defeated. And we will do everything to gain victory this year,” Zelensky said in a statement released on social media.
“Ukraine has inspired the world. Ukraine has united the world,” Zelensky said.
Hailing cities that have become bywords for alleged Russian war crimes like Bucha, Irpin and Mariupol as “capitals of invincibility”, he said “we will never rest until the Russian murderers face deserved punishment”.
A year ago to the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin stunned the world by sending troops across the border, in a move seen as punishment for Kyiv’s pivot to the West.
The year-long war has devastated swathes of Ukraine, displaced millions, turned Russia into a pariah in the West and, according to Western sources, has caused more than 150,000 casualties on each side.
The West has imposed increasingly stringent sanctions on Russia and ramped up humanitarian aid and arms supplies for Russia, leading to warnings from Moscow of a dangerous escalation.
The United States and its G7 allies on Friday planned to unveil a fresh package of sanctions, while US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington would send Ukraine a new military aid package worth $2 billion.
This week, US President Joe Biden surprised the world by visiting Kyiv to pledge new arms deliveries.
“One year later, Kyiv stands. Ukraine stands,” he tweeted. “Democracy stands. America — and the world — stands with Ukraine.”
On Thursday, the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to demand Russia “immediately” and “unconditionally” withdraw its troops from Ukraine.—AFP
