Ukrainians have proven themselves to be “invincible”, a defiant Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, as he attended a parade and memorial service out in the open in central Kyiv – marking a year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On a day of commemorations and defiance, the Ukrainian president presented awards in the capital outside St Sophia Cathedral to surviving soldiers and civilians – wives and daughters of fallen “heroes” – describing the past year as one of “pain, sorrow, faith and unity”.
“It is actually quite remarkable that they are having a parade and memorial service like this today, standing in the open in Kyiv,” General Sir Richard Barrons, a former head of Joint Forces Command, told Sky News.
“That shows how much they think they have done to repel the Russian invasion and how confident they are about how as long as the West continues to support Ukraine, Ukraine will prevail in the end.”
Ukraine war – latest: Marking a year of war in Europe
Earlier, the Ukraine leader, who has remained steadfast alongside his people in the resistance against Vladimir Putin’s invading forces, said in a video message: “We are ready for anything. We will defeat everyone.”
Sitting behind a desk and recalling how he addressed Ukrainians a year ago, he described 24 February, 2022 as “the longest day of our lives, the most difficult day in our recent history”. “We woke up early and haven’t slept since,” he said.
In a separate tweet, he wrote: “On February 24, millions of us made a choice. Not a white flag, but the blue and yellow one. Not fleeing, but facing. Resisting & fighting.
It was a year of pain, sorrow, faith, and unity. And this year, we remained invincible.
“We know that 2023 will be the year of our victory!”
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He posted his comments alongside a video reflecting on the first 12 months of the bloody conflict which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians.
It included footage of families torn apart and in tears, and the destruction of cities, as well as remembering the war dead.
However, it also hailed the “bravery” of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers against the invading forces, and looked ahead to a year of “hope, endurance and invincibility”.
Key points
• UK announces new sanctions banning every item Russia is using on battlefield
• China calls for ceasefire and peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow
• US announces another $2bn (£1.65bn) in security assistance
President Zelenskyy’s call for victory came as the general assembly of the United Nations last night voted overwhelmingly for Russia to pull out of Ukraine and for accountability for war crimes.
Just six countries – Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua and Syria – voted with Russia against the resolution calling for a comprehensive, lasting and just peace. China, India, Iran and South Africa were among the 32 countries who abstained.
China has reiterated its calls for a political settlement to the Ukraine conflict – issuing a 12-point plan calling for a ceasefire, resumption of peace talks, and an end to unilateral sanctions.
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Landmarks light up for Ukraine
Despite Beijing’s demands, including for the West to stop arming Ukraine, the White House said the United States will provide Ukraine with an additional $2bn (£1.65bn) in security assistance, while the UK on Friday announced new sanctions, banning the export of every item Russia has used on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The package of internationally co-ordinated sanctions and trade measures include export bans on hundreds of goods, such as aircraft parts, radio equipment, and electronic military components.
Mr Zelenskyy has spent much of the last few weeks touring European capitals, appealing to leaders to send his country fighter jets.
However, there are fears among Western leaders that Ukraine would use the aircraft to strike targets inside Russia. Instead, many have opted to send tanks or armoured vehicles.
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Defence Sec: ‘No jets in short term’
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the UK will not be supplying fighter jets in the “short term”, as it would mean sending “hundreds of people” to the country and “the West is not going to be putting troops into Ukraine in those scales”.
He told Sky News: “The one thing I have learnt in this conflict is you can’t rule anything in and rule anything out.”
On China’s efforts to portray itself as a neutral peace broker, Mr Wallace said: “If your big neighbour doesn’t vote actively in support of you it is sending a strong message to President Putin that this is unwise and a folly and that he should cease.”
Western leaders on Friday continued to issue messages of support to Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shared a video featuring Ukrainians who had found refuge in the UK, while President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would be with Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.
