Zelenskyy marks four years of full-scale war, highlights Ukrainian resilience

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, reflecting on the country’s steadfast resistance and the ongoing toll of the conflict.

“Exactly four years have passed since ‘Putin said he would take Kyiv in three days,’ and this says a lot about our resilience and how Ukraine has fought throughout this time,” Zelenskyy said, recalling the early days of the war when he coordinated with world leaders from a bunker.

He stressed that Ukrainians have transformed their suffering into energy for resistance. “We do not allow anger to consume us from within. Ukrainians turn their pain into the energy to fight. They may try to force us into hiding, but it is impossible to bury Ukraine underground forever,” Zelenskyy said.

The president noted the extreme hardships Ukrainians endured daily, including facing the harshest winter in modern history amid ongoing terror.

Looking ahead, Zelenskyy expressed a desire for direct engagement with US leadership.

“I hope that one day I will be here with the President of the United States. Only by visiting Ukraine and seeing our lives and struggles firsthand can one understand what this war is about and who is responsible. Putin is the reason the war started and remains an obstacle to its end.”

He called for a durable and dignified peace, stressing that any agreement must be accepted by Ukrainians themselves.