Grief, Anger, And Pride As Ukraine Marks Third Anniversary Of Russia's Full-Scale Invasion

Senior International Correspondent Mike Eckel was in Kyiv on the morning that Russia launched its all-out assault on Ukraine.

A small recollection of that moment, three years on—and the struggle to make sense of it, amid nearly two-decades of covering Russia, Ukraine and the entirety of the former Soviet Union.

The EU has issued a joint-statement on the third-anniversary of the war.

Here are four key points:

Russia and its leadership bear sole responsibility for this war.

The European Union will continue to provide Ukraine with regular and predictable financial support.

The future of Ukraine is EU membership (Hungary has of course casted doubts about this).

The EU level will ramp up European defence industry production.

Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya: "Ukraine's fight is our fight—for freedom, democracy, and the shared values of Europe."

Germany's election winner and likely next Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has condemned three years of Russian aggression and war crimes in a social media post.

"Now more than ever, we must put Ukraine in a position of strength. For a just peace, the attacked country must be part of peace negotiations," he wrote.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu, said "Ukraine has shielded Moldova from the horrors of war," in a video message on X to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The World Congress of Ukrainians (WCU), which unites Ukrainians from multiple waves of emigration as well as those displaced by Russia's invasion, has announced 1,000+ events in 72 countries over four days. "For us, it is extremely important to show that Russia's problem is not exclusively Ukraine's problem, that there are other countries that also need to strengthen sanctions against Russia, to help Ukraine even more," WCU Vice President Volodymyr Kogutyak told RFE/RL.

The events range from rallies in major cities to local events such as film screenings and church services, said Kogutak, who is based in France.

Over to Brussels, now, where EU Foreign Ministers are meeting.

The bloc's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, told reporters before going in that she hoped they would approve a 16th package of sanctions against Russia today.

She said it would cover items ranging "from gaming consoles to the shadow fleet."

President Zelenskyy has issued a rallying cry to Ukrainians on social media this morning:

"Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians. I am proud of Ukraine! I thank everyone who defends and supports it. Everyone who works for Ukraine. And may the memory of all those who have given their lives for our state and people be eternal."

For weeks before Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many observers doubted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would go ahead with it, despite growing signs that a major assault was imminent. Those doubts -- or hopes -- were all but erased when Putin delivered a combative address on February 21, a speech full of false claims and grievances. RFE/RL's Todd Prince wrote about the speech shortly after the onslaught began three days later.

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In Dark Remarks On Ukraine, Putin Telegraphed A Trajectory Toward War

It's going to be a busy day of news and events. Here's a brief list of what's expected:

In the next half hour, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to make a video address to the nation.

Zelensky has called an international security summit in Kyiv. EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, are expected to attend.

There are also plans for a joint news conference, timings to be confirmed.

In London, the British government is going to announce a new set of sanctions against Russia.

Simultaneous pro-Ukrainian protests will take place outside Russian embassies around the world, including in the Netherlands, Canada, Japan, Lithuania, Sweden, and the United States.