Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion by declaring that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not broken Ukrainians or achieved his goals. In an 18-minute address to the nation, Zelenskyy recalled the war's chaotic start from a Kyiv bunker, where he rejected Former U.S. President Joe Biden's offer of evacuation in favor of ammunition, emphasizing Ukraine's choice to resist.

Zelenskyy addressed the European Parliament via video link, receiving a standing ovation, and urged U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine to witness the conflict firsthand. He highlighted Ukraine's military advancements, from producing millions of drones to operations like the incursion into Russia's Kursk region, while listing atrocities such as Bucha, Mariupol, and the Kakhovka Dam destruction. Zelenskyy stressed the need for a strong peace agreement that does not betray Ukraine's sacrifices.

More than a dozen senior European officials visited Kyiv, including European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who prayed with Zelenskyy and toured a devastated power plant. They issued a joint statement paying tribute to Ukraine's resistance and pledging continued comprehensive support, including €90 billion in aid for 2026-27, with €60 billion for military needs under the "Porcupine" program. The EU committed to energy assistance, air defenses, security guarantees, and accountability mechanisms like a special tribunal for Russia's crime of aggression.

G7 leaders reaffirmed their unwavering backing for Ukraine's sovereignty in a statement supporting Trump's peace initiatives and direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow. They highlighted winter aid efforts, including over 2,500 generators and pledges to Ukraine's energy fund, and endorsed security guarantees via a "Coalition of the Willing" involving Britain, France, and Germany.

Russia responded defiantly, with Putin warning in a televised speech that Ukraine and its allies are "pushing themselves to the edge" and will regret it, accusing them of terror attacks on Russian infrastructure. On the anniversary, Russian strikes damaged infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia, as Ukraine enters its fifth year of war.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire respecting Ukraine's territorial integrity, while French President Emmanuel Macron expressed skepticism about near-term peace due to Russia's unwillingness. The invasion, launched on February 24, 2022, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and strained global alliances, with Ukraine advancing toward EU membership amid ongoing negotiations.