"Moldova shielded from the horrors of war"
- By RFE/RL
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.
Germany's Merz: 'Europe remains firmly on the side of Ukraine''
- By Ray Furlong
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.
- By RFE/RL
Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya: "Ukraine's fight is our fight—for freedom, democracy, and the shared values of Europe."
Russia and its leadership bear sole responsibility for this war - EU
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.
A Bleary-Eyed Overnight Train To Kyiv, Awoken By War, At A Loss of Words
- By Mike Eckel
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.
'No Deal Without Us Can Work,' Kallas Says
“You can discuss whatever you want with Putin but if it comes to Europe or Ukraine, then Ukraine and Europe also have to agree to this deal," Kaja Kallas, vice president of the European Commission, said.
“We can’t speak for President Trump and these statement are quite interesting. I mean “dictator.” First when I heard about this, I was sure he was making a mistake and mixing the two people because Russia hasn’t had elections for 25 years. Zelenskyy is an elected leader in free and fair elections and of course during war time you cannot have elections."
Putin's 'Destabilizing Fixation' On Ukraine
Over his long years in power, Putin made his designs on Ukraine increasingly clear, repeatedly trying to cast doubt on the country's right to exist as an independent state. The months before the full-scale invasion brought a drumbeat of statements, written and spoken, that caused alarm about his intentions -- or should have. One glaring example, in July 2021, was what one commentator called a "lengthy, tortured article" in which Putin "spelled out his destabilizing fixation" on controlling Ukraine.
Will Ukraine's One And Only Wartime President Face a New Election This Year?
- By Mike Eckel
Volodymr Zelenskyy rode into Ukraine's presidency in 2019 in a landslide election victory that signaled Ukrainian voters were eager for a change.
Since Russia's all-out invasion began in 2022, the country has been under martial law, barring any new presidential vote that would give Zelenskyy another chance to prove himself at the polls.
After years of wartime solidarity as Ukrainians rallied to Zelenskyy, there are now hints of political cracks. And there’s growing pressure, in particular from President Donald Trump's administration, to possibly hold a new election, something Ukrainian officials say, for now, is logistically and legally impossible.
From The Archive: RFE/RL Investigates The Bucha Massacre
- By Ray Furlong
The massacre at Bucha by Russian forces is one of the most notorious atrocities in a war that has been marked by continual Russian attacks on civilians. RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service conducted an in-depth investigation that told the stories of many victims, while focusing on the chilling story of how they came for a man who ran a coffee stand.
European Foreign Ministers On Ukraine
Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Danish foreign minister, speaking ahead of the EU foreign affairs council
"It is up to Ukraine to decide their own destiny. They have chosen to become a member of the European family, and we want to welcome them in the European family."
Maria Malmer Stenergard, Swedish foreign minister
"Ukraine must be in a position of strength at the negotiation table when they are ready to negotiate. And they must also be in a position to actually say no to a bad deal. In order for this to happen we need to increase the military support now, not in six months or a year."
Margus Tsahkna, Estonian foreign minister
"We have 300 billion euros worth of Russian frozen assets in Europe. And we need to use them...so we can replace U.S. support if the U.S. is going to decide that they will not support Ukraine anymore.”