President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appealed to European allies to maintain military, economic, and political backing as divisions within the European Union threatened to slow new sanctions and financial assistance for Kyiv, on the fourth Ukraine war anniversary.
In a televised address to the European Parliament, Zelenskiy urged the 27-member bloc to stand firm against Russian aggression and defend what he described as shared democratic values.
“Russians must learn that Europe is a union of independent nations and millions of people who do not tolerate humiliation and will not accept violence.” - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
The anniversary came as EU members struggled to agree on a new sanctions package against Russia and a proposed €90 billion loan for Ukraine. Hungary, which maintains close ties with Moscow, has maintained a veto on both measures, citing disputes over energy supplies.
Hungary and neighbouring Slovakia accuse Kyiv of blocking Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline. Ukrainian authorities say the disruption followed damage caused by a Russian strike and repair work is ongoing.
The deadlock has underscored growing political strains within Europe at a time when Kyiv is seeking stronger economic and military commitments.
EU Seen as Security Guarantee
Zelenskiy reiterated that eventual EU membership is central to Ukraine’s long-term security after any future peace agreement.
Kyiv believes it can be ready by 2027, while the bloc is exploring ways to extend limited membership benefits ahead of full accession.
Senior European figures, including Ursula von der Leyen, attended anniversary prayers at Kyiv’s Saint Sophia Cathedral. However, the absence of several major Western leaders highlighted shifting diplomatic dynamics compared with previous years.
The Ukrainian leader also criticised countries still purchasing Russian energy, warning that such trade helps finance the war effort.
The conflict remains Europe’s deadliest since World War II, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers killed or wounded and tens of thousands of civilians dead. Nearly six million Ukrainians have fled abroad, while millions more remain internally displaced.
U.S.-brokered peace talks have made little progress, largely due to disputes over territory. Moscow insists Ukraine must surrender the remaining parts of the eastern Donetsk region under Kyiv’s control, a demand Zelenskiy firmly rejected.
“We cannot, we must not, give it away, forget it, betray it,” he said, stressing that Ukraine would not abandon land defended at such high cost.
Solidarity Abroad, Fatigue at Home
Messages of support came from European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, who said Russia was paying a high price for limited territorial gains, and Karol Nawrocki, who warned that the war poses a broader threat to European security.
In Kyiv, however, the anniversary was marked by a subdued public mood. Small gatherings observed moments of silence for the fallen as residents expressed growing exhaustion after years of fighting and repeated missile attacks that have strained the country’s power grid and economy.
Despite the fatigue, Zelenskiy insisted Russia had failed to achieve its core objectives. “He has not broken the Ukrainian people. He has not won this war,” the president said, renewing his call for sustained international support as the conflict enters its fifth year.
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