On the two-year commemoration of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to all those who have stood by Ukraine. He credited their collaboration for providing a sense of security to millions in Ukraine and neighboring countries, assuring them that their nation will not be subject to Putin’s control.
Zelenskyy utilized his regular video speech to reiterate the global community about Russia’s desire for imperialism and retaliation, while also expressing hope for defeating Russia by stating that the unwavering determination of the world’s top democracies can conquer any obstacles.
He stated that it is imperative for Russia to be defeated so that the entire international community and the principles of international law will triumph.
On this day, Ukrainians paid their respects to the deceased by placing flowers, shedding tears, and holding onto hope for victory, despite the increasing casualties and ongoing Russian attack with no signs of stopping.
G7 pledges support
The leaders of the G7 major democracies commemorated the second year by promising to stand by Ukraine for however long it takes in its conflict against Russia.
The G7 released a statement condemning China and Iran for their aid to Russia in the Ukraine conflict. They urged Iran to cease supporting Russia’s military efforts and expressed apprehension about Chinese companies supplying weapons and military gear to Moscow.
Earlier, Western leaders such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the Ukrainian capital to mark the gruesome anniversary in a show of support.
Meloni and Trudeau entered into a 10-year agreement with Ukraine’s leader to strengthen their defense. Meloni reassured the Ukrainian citizens that they have support in their battle. Trudeau declared, “We are committed to standing by Ukraine and providing whatever assistance is necessary for as long as it is needed.”
This year, Trudeau committed to providing Ukraine with about $2.25 billion in financial and military aid.
View the accompanying video featuring Anna Chernikova from VOA.
The security agreements made by Canada and Italy are similar to those signed by Britain, France, Germany, and Denmark in recent times.
Unfortunately, the $61 billion aid pledged by President Joe Biden of the United States is currently being delayed by the U.S. House of Representatives. This delay is disappointing for Kyiv as it hinders their efforts to counter the significantly larger and better equipped Russian military.
On Friday, Chuck Schumer, the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate, visited Ukraine and encouraged members of the House to pass the bill for military aid to Ukraine, urging them to do what is morally correct.
On Friday, the United States government enforced over 500 fresh sanctions on Russian organizations, marking the biggest set of punishments since the start of the war.
The authorities announced that the sanctions commemorate the two-year anniversary of the invasion and the passing of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny while in custody at a prison in the Arctic.
Biden stated that the latest sanctions will focus on individuals linked to Navalny’s detention and Russia’s financial industry.
He stated that they will make sure Putin faces a higher consequence for his aggressive actions internationally and his oppressive behavior domestically.
After two years of fighting, Russian troops now control approximately 18% of Ukraine’s land. Recent attacks in the eastern region have gained momentum, following the successful capture of the damaged city of Avdiivka last weekend.
British soldiers are currently providing instruction to Ukrainian recruits at a military camp in South West England on February 20, 2024. The Defense Ministry of Britain has declared that it will allocate $311 million in funding over the course of the next year to enhance Ukraine’s artillery ammunition.
After two years of conflict, Ukraine’s government is struggling to address issues such as replenishing its military forces without harming the country’s already fragile economy.
As commemorative events were led by Zelenskyy on Saturday, some citizens of Ukraine expressed concerns about the possibility of the war lasting for several years.
Denys Symonovskiy, a resident of Kyiv, expressed his realism by acknowledging the likelihood of the war continuing for the next three to four years in a statement to Reuters. He also expressed hope for society to mobilize and find a way to defeat Russia.
Funerals every day
In Lviv, a city in the west, women shed tears as a priest conducted prayers in a cemetery adorned with blue and yellow Ukrainian flags, each symbolizing the loss of a soldier.
“The boys are holding the front line. We can only imagine what effort and price is paid for every peaceful day we have. I want to believe it’s not all in vain. We have funerals every day,” Evhenia Demchuk, a widow and mother of two, told Reuters.
A memorial for Russian politician Alexey Navalny was displayed outside the Russian Embassy in London on February 18, 2024. Navalny, who was 47 years old, passed away unexpectedly on February 16 while serving time in an Arctic prison.
In the Polish capital of Warsaw, a large group of demonstrators gathered outside the Russian Embassy to commemorate the two-year anniversary of Russia’s complete invasion of Ukraine. As a form of protest, some individuals left a heap of animal waste outside the residence of Moscow’s ambassador to Poland on Saturday.
Photos captured by Reuters depict demonstrators outside the Russian Embassy brandishing flags from Ukraine and Poland, as well as holding banners with strong condemnations of Russians. One particularly striking image shows a damaged Russian flag with the letter “Z” displayed on a heap of manure, accompanied by a message declaring, “We reject your presence in the EU! Leave now!”
Despite disagreements with Kyiv over agricultural imports and regulations for truckers, Poland has remained a strong ally in Ukraine’s battle against the Russian invasion.
In Ukraine, authorities reported that a residential building in the southern city of Odesa was hit by a Russian drone on Friday night, resulting in the death of one individual and the injury of multiple others.
During the nighttime attack, the military reported that multiple Russian drones were successfully taken down over Odesa.
Nike Ching, the State Department Bureau Chief for VOA, provided insights for this report. Additional sources for this story include The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters.
Source: voanews.com
