Zelenskyy marks four years of war, vows to secure 'peace and justice' for Ukraine

2026-02-24 - 11:02

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commemorated the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion Tuesday, declaring that Ukrainians have preserved their independence and statehood through immense courage and endurance. "We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to secure peace and justice," Zelenskyy stated, as Kyiv hosted European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and leaders from across Northern Europe for the solemn occasion. International Solidarity and Defense Efforts The center of Kyiv was cordoned off as dignitaries gathered for an online meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" and a Ukraine-Nordic-Baltic summit. National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov emphasized that "the Ukrainian defense industry is working to win. Technology is changing the battlefield," adding that Ukraine seeks "a just and sustainable peace. Not for formalities, but for results." The gathering underscored continued Western support even as battlefield dynamics evolve. Moscow's Perspective Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova characterized Moscow's "special military operation" as a "forced step" to protect Donbas civilians, claiming 13,500 had been killed by Ukrainian military action before February 2022. She reiterated that Russia had sought security guarantees from the West in 2021, including NATO's non-expansion eastward and return to 1997 military infrastructure configurations, but was ignored. Zakharova also cited Zelenskyy's February 2022 aspiration for nuclear weapons as provoking "serious concern." She concluded that "a lasting, just, and sustainable peace is possible only on the basis of eliminating the root causes of the conflict," pointing to ongoing Russian-American dialogue and contacts with "World Majority" countries.