Zelenskyy Pledges Victory Push on Ukraine War Anniversary
As the Ukraine war enters its second year without an end in sight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reflects on the first year of the bloody conflict and declares, “2023 will be our year of victory.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainians have proven to be “invincible” while attending an open-air memorial service in the heart of Kyiv commemorating a year since Russia invaded Ukraine.
On a day of remembrance and defiance, the president of Ukraine presented awards to surviving soldiers and civilians – wives and daughters of fallen “heroes” – in the capital, describing the previous year as one of “pain, sorrow, faith, and unity.”
General Sir Richard Barrons, a former head of the Joint Forces Command, told Sky News: “It is quite remarkable that they are holding a parade and memorial service like this today in Kyiv, out in the open.”
This demonstrates how much they believe they have done to repel the Russian invasion and how confident they are that Ukraine will ultimately prevail as long as the West continues to support it.
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The leader of Ukraine, who has remained steadfast alongside his people in the resistance against Vladimir Putin’s invading forces, posted the following tweet: “On February 24, countless individuals made a decision. Not a white flag, but one that is blue and yellow. Not running away, but facing. Fighting and resisting.
“It was a year of suffering, grief, faith, and cohesion. In addition, we remained unbeatable this year.
“We are confident that 2023 will be our year of victory!”
Tens of thousands of civilians lost their lives in the first twelve months of the bloody conflict.
It depicted families torn apart and in tears, the destruction of cities, and the memorialization of the war dead.
However, it also praised the “courage” of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers in the face of the invading forces and predicted a year of “hope, endurance, and invincibility.”
President Zelenskyy’s call for victory came as the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly last night for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine and for accountability for war crimes.
ALSO READ: UN Chief Condemns Ukraine Invasion Ahead of Anniversary
Six nations, including Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, and Syria, joined Russia in voting against the resolution calling for a global, lasting, and just peace. China, India, Iran, and South Africa were among the 32 nations that abstained from voting.
China has reiterated its calls for a political resolution to the Ukraine conflict, issuing a 12-point plan that calls for a ceasefire, the resumption of peace talks, and the end of unilateral sanctions.
Despite Beijing’s demands, which include that the West stop arming Ukraine, the White House announced that the United States will provide Ukraine with an additional $2bn (£1.65bn) in security assistance, while the UK announced new sanctions on Friday, prohibiting the export of all items Russia has used on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Hundreds of goods, such as aircraft parts, radio equipment, and electronic military components, are prohibited from export under the international sanctions and trade measures package.
Mr. Zelenskyy has spent the majority of the last few weeks touring European capitals, pleading with leaders to send fighter jets to his country.
However, Western leaders are concerned that Ukraine will use the aircraft to attack Russian targets. Many have instead chosen to send tanks or armored vehicles.
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Ben Wallace, the British defense secretary, stated that the UK will not be supplying fighter jets to Ukraine in the “short term” because doing so would require sending “hundreds of people” to the country, and “the West will not be sending troops into Ukraine in such large numbers.”
He told Sky News, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this conflict, it’s that you can’t rule anything in or out.”
Regarding China’s efforts to portray itself as a neutral peace broker, Mr. Wallace stated, “If your big neighbor doesn’t vote actively in support of you, it sends a strong message to President Putin that his actions are foolish and ill-advised, and he should stop.”
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