As Ukraine war enters fifth year, Zelenskyy says Russia is failing in its goals – and Kremlin agrees

Kyiv, Ukraine – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked the beginning of the fifth year war in Ukraine that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has failed to achieve his war aims. And the Kremlin agreed.

In a video address showing Ukrainians performing acts of resistance against Russian troops in the early days of the conflict, Zelenskyy added that Ukraine is ready to do “everything” it can to secure a strong, lasting peace.

Hundreds of thousands have died on both sides since Russia attacked its neighbor on February 24, 2022, unleashing the deadliest war in Europe since World War II.

Negotiations between the two sides, relaunched last year by the United States, have so far failed to stop the war that has devastated the country and left it facing a major reconstruction task.

“We defended our independence, we did not lose our nationality; Putin did not achieve his goals. He did not break the Ukrainians; he did not win this war. We have saved Ukraine, and we will do everything to ensure peace and justice. Glory to Ukraine!” Zelenskyy said in his address that he posted on social media.

“We want peace. A strong, dignified, lasting peace,” Zelenskyy said, adding that any agreement “must not just be signed, it must be accepted by the Ukrainian people.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russia has not achieved all of its military objectives in Ukraine and will continue to fight until it succeeds.

“The goals were not fully achieved, that’s why the military operation is still going on,” Peskov told reporters.

Zelenskyy told AFP last week that Ukraine is not winning the war, and urged European countries to put troops on the front lines in case of a ceasefire to prevent Russia from attacking again.

Leaders of Ukraine’s allies, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, were in the country on Tuesday to celebrate the 20th anniversary.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen was also present, saying she wanted to reassure you that Europe stands “unwaveringly with Ukraine, financially, militarily, and in this difficult winter.”

“And to send a clear message to the Ukrainian people and the oppressor alike: we will not stop until peace is restored. Peace on Ukraine’s terms,” ​​he said in a video posted on social media.

He is expected to attend a “memorial event” and visit a Ukrainian power plant damaged by Russian strikes before meeting Zelenskyy and taking part in a videoconference with Kyiv’s allies, including Britain, France and Germany.

Ukrainian soldiers are working hard

CBS News reporter Holly Williams, who has been covering the war since it began, met last week with a Ukrainian soldier she first met three days before Russia attacked.

At the time, Williams says, he thought Valeriy Kashkarov and his colleagues were killed when Russia invaded.

But when CBS News caught up with him, he laughed when Williams said he was surprised he was still alive.

“Me too,” commented Kashkarov.

He said he was shot by a Russian sniper. Although they survived, many of their fellow soldiers did not.

“I’m upset,” Kashkarov told Williams.

“It hurts a lot,” Williams said.

“Yes,” Kashkarov answered, “Especially … young armed brothers (fellow soldiers) are dead, and many of them. Every day.

“It’s like – ah – what the hell,” he mused.

Conflicting local benefits

The United States has been calling for an end to the conflict, which has devastated much of eastern and southern Ukraine, but Moscow and Kyiv remain at odds over the region.

Russia, which occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine, wants full control of the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk as part of any deal and has threatened to take it by force if Kyiv does not budge from the negotiating table.

Ukraine has rejected the demand and said it will not sign the deal without security guarantees from allies, including the US, to prevent Russia from attacking again.

Moscow has expanded in recent months attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructurereducing heating and power for millions of Ukrainians during this harsh winter.

Kyiv’s allies have slapped tough sanctions on Moscow, forcing it to redirect its vital oil exports to new markets, mainly in Asia.

Despite heavy losses, Russian troops have in recent months made steady progress on the front line, especially in the eastern Donbas region, which Moscow wants to annex.

Russia has rejected Ukrainian proposals to send European troops to Ukraine after any deal to end the violence. Putin has repeatedly warned that he will pursue his goals by force if diplomacy fails.

The rebuild will be huge

The brutal four-year war has devastated Ukraine, which even before the war was one of the poorest countries in Europe.

The cost of post-war reconstruction is estimated at 588 billion dollars over the next decade, according to a joint report of the World Bank, the EU and the UN and Kyiv published on Monday.

Russia issued its decision to send troops to Ukraine as a precautionary measure to stop Ukraine’s desire to join NATO.

On Monday, during an awards ceremony to celebrate “Defenders of the Fatherland Day,” Putin said his soldiers are defending Russia’s “borders” to ensure “orderly balance” between forces and fight for “the future of the country.”