Zelenskiy vows victory over Russian on second year of war
- 26 February, 00:11
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has promised victory against Russia as his country marked the second anniversary of Russia’s full-fledged invasion on February 24.
“We will win,” Zelenskiy said while addressing a ceremony at an airport in Kyiv.
He addressed the audience alongside the Prime Ministers of Canada, Italy, and Belgium, as well as the Chief of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who visited Kyiv to commemorate the occasion.
Upon the declaration of a "special military operation" by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the morning of February 24, 2022, initial expectations leaned towards a quick victory. Nevertheless, Ukraine resiliently resisted, compelling Russian forces to undergo humiliating retreats. Subsequently, Ukraine faced challenges, experiencing setbacks with the lack of success in its counteroffensive in 2023.
The Russian military has fortified its position through enhancements to its defense industry, whereas Ukrainian forces face challenges with manpower shortages and depleting supplies of Western-provided ammunition for artillery and air defenses.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg encouraged Ukraine and its allies not to lose hope, while Ursula von der Leyen commended Ukraine's remarkable resistance upon her arrival in the Ukrainian capital. Ukraine's military leader, Oleksandr Syrsky, expressed confidence in victory, stating that light always triumphs over darkness.
Russia continues its relentless onslaught with destructive drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. In the most recent strikes, Ukrainian authorities reported the tragic loss of three civilians in Dnipro and Odessa during the night between Friday and Saturday.
