Zelensky hails Ukraine’s ‘absolute heroism’ on third anniversary of Russia’s invasion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed “three years of resistance, three years of gratitude” and “three years of absolute heroism” as Ukraine marked the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Monday.

Sharing a video with images of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, Zelensky thanked everyone defending and supporting Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression.

“Three years of full-scale war is a very long time, but the Ukrainian people have defended their right to independence and to a state of their own”, the video voiceover said.

Speaking at a forum in Kyiv on Sunday, Zelensky indicated his readiness to step down as president if that meant either “peace for Ukraine” or Kyiv’s immediate acceptance into NATO.

“I am focusing on security today and not in 20 years' time. I don’t plan to be in power for 10 years”, said Zelensky, whom US President Donald Trump labelled a “dictator” on Wednesday for not holding elections — despite the Ukrainian Constitution banning the holding of elections while the country is under martial law, as Ukraine has been since February 2022.

Stressing that Trump was “not forever” and that Ukraine needed “peace for many, many years”, Zelensky said that Ukraine needed security guarantees as part of any negotiated settlement to end the war to prevent Russia attacking again when Trump leaves office.

Zelensky is set to meet with European leaders in Kyiv on Monday to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine as well as European security at a summit to mark the third anniversary of the war amid uncertainty about the continuation of US military support for the country.

Among those arriving in the Ukrainian capital by train on Monday morning were Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as well as the leaders of Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

In a statement, von der Leyen announced that the EU would provide Ukraine with €3.5 billion in aid in March, as Russia’s war remained the “most central and consequential crisis for Europe's future”.

Later on Monday, the UN General Assembly will also vote on two competing draft resolutions on the war Ukraine — a Ukraine-led collective resolution involving over 50 countries condemning Russia’s aggression and one from the US which calls for a “swift end to the conflict” without naming Russia as the aggressor, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported.

The Washington Post reported at the weekend that the Trump administration had tried to pressure Kyiv to withdraw its resolution calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and instead support the US proposal.