By Kontur and AFP | 2025-02-25

KYIV -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed his country's "resistance" and "heroism" on Monday (February 24), on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion.

He also called for "real, lasting peace" this year as European leaders gathered for a summit in Kyiv in a show of solidarity.

"Putin will not give us peace or give it to us in exchange for something," Zelenskyy said. "We have to win peace through strength and wisdom and unity."

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to launch what he called a "special military operation" in February 2022 set off the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Tens of thousands of soldiers from both sides and Ukrainian civilians have been killed. Cities across the country's south and east have been flattened and millions forced to flee their homes.

On the battlefield, Russian troops have been advancing across the east, while on Monday Ukraine claimed to have hit a Russian oil refinery southeast of Moscow in its latest drone attack deep behind the front line.

'Turning point'

Zelenskyy hailed "three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians."

"I thank everyone who defends and supports it," he added.

Arriving in Kyiv by train, European Union Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine was fighting "for survival" and that Europe's "destiny" was at stake in Ukraine.

"We are in Kyiv today, because Ukraine is Europe. In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It's Europe's destiny," she said in a post on X.

Brussels on Monday hit Russia with a new round of sanctions targeting not only "the Russian shadow fleet but those who support the operation of unsafe oil tankers, video game controllers used to pilot drones, banks used to circumvent our sanctions and propaganda outlets used to spout lies," the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said.

The presidents or prime ministers of Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Spain and Sweden had all arrived in Kyiv on Monday morning, according to their posts on social media and Ukraine's Suspilne public broadcaster.

Zelenskyy said 13 leaders would be in Kyiv with another 24 joining a special meeting online.

The Ukrainian leader said he hoped it would be a "turning point."

He is calling for security guarantees from Kyiv's backers to ensure Russia does not use any ceasefire to rearm and attack again at a later date.

On Sunday he offered to resign if it meant Ukraine could be given NATO membership.

The Kremlin on the eve of the anniversary repeated Russia's position that it would not give up territory it has captured in Ukraine's east and south.

Moscow has also said it would not accept Ukrainian admission to NATO.

'I don't want to give up'

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was ready to negotiate with Ukraine, Europe or "any representatives who in good faith would like to help achieve peace."

"But we will stop hostilities only when these negotiations produce a firm and sustainable result that suits the Russian Federation," he said in a press conference in Türkiye.

Ukrainian soldiers in the east told AFP they were nervous about potential talks to reach a swift ceasefire.

"It scares me more. Because the bloodiest moments always come before a truce," said Andrii, a 25-year-old serving with Ukraine's army in the east.

"In this war, you don't count days, weeks, numbers, or any dates," said Mykola, a 38-year-old gun commander stationed in the eastern Donetsk region.

"I don't want to give up Ukrainian lands ... we've been fighting for so long," he told AFP on the eve of the anniversary.

"But everyone is tired of the war."