We have defended our independence: Zelenskyy defiant on war anniversary

Marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has defended its independence, insisting that Putin has 'not achieved his goals' and 'has not won this war'.

Four years after Russian tanks rolled across Ukraine’s borders, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a blunt message to Moscow: Ukraine is still standing.

"We have defended our independence, we have not lost our statehood," the Ukrainian President said on social media, marking the grim anniversary of the invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin, he added, has "not achieved his goals."

"He has not broken Ukrainians; he has not won this war," Zelenskyy said.

According to the Associated Press, Zelenskyy’s remarks came as more than a dozen senior European dignitaries arrived in Kyiv in a show of solidarity with Ukraine. The war, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, has reshaped Europe’s security landscape and stirred fears about Moscow’s broader ambitions.

Despite Russia’s larger and better-equipped military, Ukraine has held its ground. Over the past year, Russian forces captured just 0.79 per cent of Ukrainian territory, according to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War. Moscow now controls nearly 20 per cent of Ukraine, but advances have slowed.

Standing at a makeshift memorial in Kyiv’s central square — where thousands of small flags mark the graves of fallen soldiers — Zelenskyy reflected on the toll of the conflict.