Zelensky stated that Putin did not break the Ukrainians on the fourth anniversary of the invasion
According to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, Russia has captured 0.79 per cent of Ukraine's territory over the past year. In total, almost 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory is under Russian control.
More than a dozen high-ranking officials from Europe were in Kyiv for the anniversary, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, as well as seven prime ministers and four foreign ministers.
On that day, Vladimir Putin spoke at a meeting of the Federal Security Service in Moscow and said there was a growing threat of Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. Ukraine is using long-range drones to strike oil refineries, fuel depots and military facilities more than 1,000 kilometres deep inside Russia.
The UN General Assembly called for an immediate ceasefire and comprehensive peace in Ukraine. The resolution, which included wording on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, was supported by 107 states, with 12 opposed and 51 abstaining, including the United States.
At an impromptu memorial in central Kyiv, Zelensky invited US President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine to see the consequences of the war for himself. He also said he expects a new round of US-mediated talks with Russia within the next 10 days.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the number of dead, wounded and missing soldiers on both sides could reach 2 million by spring. The report notes that Russia has suffered the heaviest losses among major powers in conflicts since World War II.
German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz said that war has returned to Europe and that the fate of Ukraine is shared by European countries. French President Emmanuel Macron called the war a triple defeat for Russia in military, economic and strategic terms.
The United Kingdom announced a new package of military and humanitarian support for Ukraine, including sending teams of military medics to train their Ukrainian colleagues.
According to estimates by the World Bank, the European Commission, the United Nations and the Ukrainian government, the cost of rebuilding the country over the next decade will be nearly $588 billion. This is almost three times Ukraine's nominal GDP for last year.
