Kyiv Commemorates Three Years Since Full-Scale Invasion by Moscow

President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine, along with its allies in Kyiv, last week, marked the third anniversary of the ongoing conflict resulting from Russia’s full-coated invasion. According to the CNN , Zelensky had expressed his pride and gratitude to the Ukrainian people for their “absolute heroism.” “Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians,” Zelensky said.

Top European Leaders Show Unity

On Monday in Kyiv, Zelensky shared a remarkably somber video showing top European leaders placing lanterns at a Kyiv memorial which was decorated proudly with dozens of Ukrainian and allied flags.

Ukrainians Remain Defiant

In contrast to the sombre diplomacy of leaders, regular Ukrainians continue to resist and remain outspoken. In Kyiv, CNN spoke with Major Taras Berezovets in Ukraine’s army, who humorously suggested that maybe Moscow’s President Vladimir Putin should be asked about his thoughts on the ongoing conflict. He pointed out that “Putin was planning to occupy Kyiv in three days, but instead, he’s now in the fourth year of this war. He occupied only about 20% of Ukrainian territory.” Putin had planned for a swift and decisive victory and did not anticipate the extraordinary resilience and strength of the Ukrainian forces.

Kateryna Andreeva, a 35-year-old bank worker, said that the pre-war Ukraine is now a completely different country, comparing it with a transformed America after the Civil War, musing that, “Going back to times before February 24, 2022, we are now a completely different country, with completely different people.” Despite the privations of war, Andreeva believes that Ukraine has undergone a profound transformation, shaping its identity as a nation.

Europe Ponders Future Without Strong U.S. Support

While European leaders attempted to demonstrate unity by announcing a new support package for Ukraine and the United Kingdom unveiling new sanctions against Moscow, pundits are skeptical on how long this unity can last. As the world’s largest economy and the global leader the USA surely outshines other donors, but President Donald Trump has certainly deemed otherwise. Analysts fear that “The prospect of resisting Russia alone” following the Trump administration’s blows to the transatlantic alliance. This tussle wouldn’t be new for Europeans who have endured similar economic perils in the 1990’s due to the collapse of their Soviet ally which led to what is referred to as the “lost decade.”

Many of the Eastern European countries are familiar with harsh sanctions on goods such as food. And the historical sanctions by the European Union on Russia have been arduous for these EU countries. With such economic constraints, analysts are skeptical that Europe will remain supportive of Ukraine.

A mall in Eastern Ukraine at Maksiymivka features a mural of Former President Vladimir Putin clear blue eyed, looking intently off into the distance above phrases in both the Ukrainian and English languages. The mural explicitly depicts the two countries. “What Don’t Die, won’t need to rise again”A comfort for Ukraine in times of conflict.

Transatlantic Relations Weakened by Trump’s Remarks

Trump echoed Kremlin disinformation about Ukraine war and derisively labeled President Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator. In missile-armed Ukraine and political ranks, Trump’s past actions in Ukraine and his remarks lead to dismay. According to Trump, Zelensky “should never have started the war in Ukraine.” The comments were quickly refuted in Europe and found to be out of line with the evidence.

Ukrainian Transformation

Ukraine’s transformation has been nothing short of extraordinary. In addition to the extensive economic restructuring, political governance, bureaucratic reforms, and significant changes to day-to-day life, Ukraine’s spirit has proven resilient. As per Kateryna Andreeva, “We have undergone a very big transformation and we are going through it every day in our actions, in our thoughts, in our, let’s say, goals. We have become stronger. We are fighting for independence, but we have become more independent of everything and everyone.”

Europe’s Solidarity and Support for Ukraine

Europe has taken a hard stand on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she stated “Ukraine was invaded for no reason other than Putin’s imperial obsession, a man who longs for the era when he was once a promising communist party apparatchik.

Ursula also clarified that the current economic constraints on Europe had meant that they would not be able to give more than €119 billion to Ukraine.