President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the fourth anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war by asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to achieve his objectives in Ukraine.

In a video address, Zelensky highlighted Ukrainian resistance during the early days of the 2022 invasion and reiterated his commitment to securing a strong and lasting peace.

“Putin has not achieved his goals. He did not break the Ukrainians. He did not win this war. We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to achieve peace — and to ensure there is justice,” Zelensky stated.

He emphasized that any peace agreement must be supported by Ukrainians, not merely signed by negotiators.

Hundreds of thousands have died since February 24, 2022, in what is Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.

Despite ongoing peace talks facilitated by the United States, fighting continues in eastern and southern Ukraine, leaving the country with massive reconstruction challenges.

European leaders, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, visited Kyiv to reaffirm support.

Von der Leyen stressed Europe’s commitment to Ukraine financially, militarily, and politically, sending a clear message to Russia that peace must be restored on Ukraine’s terms.

Ukraine has rejected Russian demands for territorial concessions, particularly in the Donetsk region, insisting on security guarantees from allies.

Moscow continues to escalate attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, while Kyiv’s partners maintain sanctions against Russia.

The conflict has devastated Ukraine’s economy and infrastructure, with reconstruction costs estimated at $588 billion over the next decade.

Zelensky warned that Ukraine will not compromise its sovereignty and called for continued international support to deter further Russian aggression.