It is one year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Follow our live updates as Europe remembers that era-defining day.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked reporters from around the world for their continued coverage of Ukraine in a press conference in Kyiv on Friday.
The conference followed a day of ceremonies and events marking one year since Russia's full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022.
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Lula calls for countries not involved in war to lead peace talks
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is urging countries that aren't involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to lead talks to restore peace between them.
The Brazilian leader wrote Friday on social media that “it is urgent that a group of countries, which are not involved in the conflict, take on responsibility for heading negotiations to reestablish peace.”
What happened to diplomacy?
Twelve months into the war in Ukraine, efforts to find a diplomatic solution appear to have ground to a halt. Euronews asked the experts why this happened. Find out more 👇
Russia-Ukraine war: what happened to diplomacy?
Is there any possibility of a negotiated solution to the war in Ukraine?Protests in support of Ukraine from around the world
From Brazil to Japan, people have been gathering for vigils and protests in support of Ukraine.
Protesters detained in Russia
Russian media and rights groups say police in various parts of the country have detained protesters who took to the streets with antiwar slogans or flowers on Friday.
At least eight people were detained after taking flowers to a monument to victims of political repression in Yekaterinburg, according to the OVD-Info legal aid group.
And it said another two people were detained in St. Petersburg after bringing flowers to a monument honouring Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.
A look back to the first days of the war
During the first week of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted many images and videos of himself in Kyiv to prove that he was still in the city.
Sweden to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
Sweden's government says it will send up to 10 German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
The commitment is aimed to reinforce similar announcements recently from other European countries to send in the high-tech, broadly-deployed tanks to help Kyiv meet its demands for better firepower against Russian forces.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a press conference Friday that the move by Sweden followed a decision by Germany last month to send more than a dozen of its Leopards to Ukraine and green-light other Western allies to send them, too.
Sweden said it also intends to donate parts of its HAWK and IRIS-T air defence systems to Ukraine. Sweden is seeking NATO membership.
War is reminder of how 'present and future can change': Romania's President
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a reminder of how the “present and future can change in an instant” and called for Moscow to be held accountable for crimes its forces have committed in Ukraine.
Iohannis said in a message posted online that innocent people have lost their lives, others have lost their homes and saw schools and hospitals destroyed while many others had to flee the violence for the sake of their children.
He said Ukrainians have “impressed the whole world” with their courage and that they protect the freedom and security of the whole of Europe.
(AP)
Kyiv road in London
Ukrainian ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko and his wife Inna unveiled a street sign for 'Kyiv Road', a section of road renamed by the City of Westminster council outside the Russian Embassy in London.
China's peace plan for Ukraine is 'selective'
China's peace plan blurs roles of aggressor and victim, says Brussels
euronewsThe European Commission believes China's 12-point plan is built on "misplaced" ideas of security interests and implicitly justifies Russia's invasion. #EuropeNewsUkraine is fighting for 'freedom of the entire continent': Moldova’s President
Moldova’s President Maia Sandu said Ukrainians are not only fighting Russia for a “free and dignified life” but also for the “freedom of the entire continent.”
In a message posted online on Friday, Sandu said “there is no greater injustice than being invaded and killed in your own home” and praised Ukrainians who “rose up, conquered their fears and became invincible” in the face of Russian aggression.
(AP)
Japan set to propose new sanctions
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he plans to present a set of “new ideas” for sanctions against Russia when he hosts an online G-7 summit later on Friday.
Kishida, this year’s G-7 president, told a news conference he also planned to call on other countries to stop providing military support to Russia.
“In order to absolutely not allow one-sided changes to the status quo, we must firmly carry out support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia to regain peace and international order based on the rule of law," Kishida said. “G-7 serves the core of the international commitment to do so.”
UK Minister says sanctions 'are hitting Russia where it hurts'
“Europe and our allies have pulled together… [creating] the largest use of coordinated sanctions ever levelled against a major economy — sanctions which are hitting Russia where it hurts,” Anne-Marie Trevelyan, a UK Minister of State, told Euronews.
You can read more about her views on sanctions here 👇
Sanctions are hitting Russia where it hurts. We must not lose momentum
Sanctions collaboration by international partners has been vital over the last year — now we must ensure our enforcement work is watertight to keep the pressure on Putin, UK Minister of State Anne-Marie Trevelyan writes.Beijing's peace proposal is ‘insufficient’: European Commission
China’s twelve-point peace deal builds on a “selective” and “insufficient” interpretation of the United Nations charter that doesn’t properly reflect the roles of aggressor and victim, according to the European Commission.
China’s proposal calls for the cessation of hostilities, the lifting of “unilateral sanctions” and the end of the “Cold War mentality,” a reference to Beijing’s geopolitical rift with the United States.
Crucially, the paper doesn’t say what should happen with the Ukrainian territories that Russia has occupied since February 2022.
The proposal is a “political initiative. It emphasises certain principles of the UN Charter but it’s selective and insufficient about their implications for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” a European Commission spokesperson told reporters on Friday.
“China’s position builds on a misplaced focus on the so-called legitimate security interests and concerns of parties implying a justification for Russia’s illegal invasion and blurring the roles of the aggressor and the aggressed.”
Speaking from Estonia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Chinese paper was a compilation of “principles” rather than a fully-fledged peace proposal and that it should be seen against the context of China declaring an “unlimited friendship with Russia right before the invasion.”
Pros and cons of supplying fighter jets to Ukraine
As Ukraine urges the West to provide it with fighter jets, experts say there are a lot of considerations to take into account before supplying them.
Learn more about this from our story 👇
What are the pros and cons of supplying fighter jets to Ukraine?
Ukrainian officials are asking for fighter aircraft, with President Zelenskyy telling the UK to give the country “wings” to control the skies. But there are a lot of factors for Western countries to consider before doing so, experts say. #EuropeDecodedPolish PM brings Leopard tanks to Kyiv
Poland's president said that his country's prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki brought the first Leopard tanks to Ukraine during his visit to Kyiv.
Pentagon announces new €1.8 billion aid package for Ukraine
The Pentagon announced a new package of long-term security assistance for Ukraine on Friday, with a $2 billion [€1.8 billion] commitment to send more rounds of ammunition and a variety of small, high-tech drones into the fight.
In a statement, it added that the aid includes weapons to counter Russia's unmanned systems and several types of drones, including the upgraded Switchblade 600 Kamikaze drone, as well as electronic warfare detection equipment.
(AP)
Serbian activists try to present skull cake to Russian embassy
Serbian police prevented activists from presenting a skull-adorned cake to the Russian embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has maintained friendly relations with Russia and has refused to join Western sanctions.
Watch: UK PM leads moment of silence for Ukraine
Zelenskyy thanks Germany for its support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Germany for its support in a video message at a memorial event in Berlin.
Zelenskyy, who spoke through an interpreter, said that “now is the time when, with our courage and our weapons, we can restore peace and create a historically important safeguard against every aggression.”
And he added that his country could “end Russian aggression this year.”
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier led a minute of silence for the victims of the war at the event.
He said that “Germany is not at war, but this war concerns us. Russia’s war of aggression has wrecked the European security order.”
Putin is 'preparing for more war': Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russian President Vladimir Putin is “preparing for more war" and he wants a Europe in which Russia “can dictate what neighbours do."
Stoltenberg made the remarks Friday in the Estonian capital where he was joined by EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to commemorate the Baltic country's independence day.
Von der Leyen said Putin has failed to achieve any of his strategic goals and that Russia is becoming increasingly isolated, citing Thursday's UN General Assembly vote approving a nonbinding resolution that calls for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces.
Stoltenberg also said that he has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend a NATO summit in Lithuania in July, expressing hope that the Ukrainian leader can attend in person.
(AP)
West more united because of war in Ukraine
The West is more united than ever after one year of war in Ukraine, according to a new poll, which describes the US and its European allies as having regained their unity and sense of purpose.
Read more about this from our story 👇
West more united due to Ukraine war but rest of world more independent
The study also found that support for the war in Ukraine varied significantly between the West and the 'rest'. #EuropeNewsChina 'doesn't have much credibility' on Ukraine: Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said China "doesn't have much credibility" when it comes to Ukraine after Beijing called for a cease-fire and peace talks.
"On the proposals and points presented by China, first of all: China doesn't have much credibility because it was not able to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine. And it also signed a few days before the invasion an agreement [...] on an unlimited partnership with Russia," he said.
Light installation in Kyiv
Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter projected a light installation on the main Post Office building in Kyiv on Thursday, the eve of the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
King Charles denounces 'unnecessary suffering' caused by Russia's invasion
UK's monarch King Charles III has denounced the "unnecessary suffering" caused by Russia's "unprovoked" invasion of Ukraine.
Charles added that he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Buckingham Palace earlier this month to express his “personal support” for Ukraine’s people.
US announces new sanctions
The White House has announced tougher sanctions meant to hit Russia's economy and reduce Moscow's access to sensitive technologies.
The sanctions, which target sectors such as banking and the defence industry, will affect "more than 200 individuals and entities, including Russian and third-country actors across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East who support Russia's war effort," the White House said.
The new sanctions will also target "a dozen Russian financial institutions, in alignment with allies and partners, as well as Russian officials and proxy authorities operating illegally in Ukraine."
Targeted companies will be prohibited "from purchasing items, such as semiconductors, whether manufactured in the United States or with certain US technology or software abroad".
(AFP)
EU pledges more support for refugees
EU officials pledged their continued support to millions of Ukrainian refugees in Europe.
“Ukraine can win this war, but we will be with Ukraine as long as it takes,” EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said.
Johansson also urged members to finish talks on new migration rules and assist Ukrainians who wished to return home but maintain their temporary residence status in the bloc.
More than 8 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the war, according to the United Nations refugee agency, and nearly 5 million have registered in the EU.
UK imposes new sanctions
The UK slapped more sanctions on firms that supply Russia’s battlefield equipment on Friday.
It will bar the export to Moscow of all items it has used in the war, including aircraft parts, radio equipment, and electronic components of weapons.
The list includes executives of several Russian banks and defence companies, as well as Russia’s state-owned nuclear power company, Rosatom.
Also sanctioned are five executives from Iran’s Qods Aviation Industry, which makes armed drones that Moscow has used to attack Ukraine’s infrastructure.
(AP)
Watch: Vigils around the world as people rally for Ukraine
Different parts of the world are marking the first anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine with vigils.
From Paris and Brussels, to London, New York and beyond to countries as far as Thailand and Kazakhstan, people have been gathering to show their support for Ukraine and its people.
'They need help': Global vigils held for Ukraine on war anniversary
Across the world, demonstrations of support for Ukraine and its people have been taking place, a year to the day since Vladimir Putin launched the Russian invasion.NATO reaffirms its commitment to stand with Ukraine
The NATO military alliance is affirming its commitment to stand by Ukraine and help it defeat Russia on the first anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion.
“We remain determined to maintain coordinated international pressure on Russia,” ambassadors from the 30 alliance countries said in a statement Friday.
“Russia’s efforts to break the resolve of the brave people of Ukraine are failing. One year on, Ukrainians are fighting valiantly for freedom and independence. We stand with them.”
The envoys also reaffirmed their “iron-clad” intent to come to the defence of any member country should Russia consider broadening the war.
(AP)
EU ambassadors resume talks to approve new sanctions
Ambassadors from the 27 member states are meeting again on Friday morning with the goal of endorsing the 10th round of EU sanctions against Russia, a move deliberately timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine war.
But the approval is taking longer than expected, following unsuccessful negotiations on both Wednesday and Thursday.
Diplomats who spoke to Euronews on condition of anonymity described a series of divisive moves that have hindered talks, including a Hungarian request to remove several Russian names from the EU's blacklist, a Polish-Lithuanian push to sanction Russia's nuclear sector and an unpopular proposal by the European Commission to impose fines on authorities who fail to report on the location of frozen assets by the Russian Central Bank.
None of them is believed to have gained enough traction.
By Thursday evening, the import of Russian-made synthetic rubber had emerged as the very last obstacle for the green light, which requires unanimous consent.
Poland argues the exempted quote within the proposed ban is far too generous for Russia.
"We believe that for certain petrochemical products, the proposed transition periods are too long and the proposed quota is far too high. Especially when there are substitutes on the EU market," Polish Ambassador Andrzej Sadoś told reporters following Thursday's talks.
In 2020, Poland exported $425 million (€401 million) in synthetic rubber against Russia's $1.34 billion (€1.2 billion), according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, which tracks trade flows around the world.
Reporting by Jorge Liboreiro and Efi Koutsokosta
Ceremony honours Ukrainian soldiers in Lviv
Crowds gathered in Lviv on Thursday for a symbolic illumination called "ray of memory" in honour of Ukrainian soldiers who died in the war.
Beijing calls for cease-fire
China called for a cease-fire between Ukraine and Moscow and the start of peace talks in a 12-point proposal to end the fighting. China has previously said it has a “no limits friendship” with Russia and has refused to criticise its invasion of Ukraine, despite claims to have a neutral stance in the war.
Beijing has also accused the West of provoking the conflict and “fanning the flames” by providing Ukraine with defensive arms. While the US has claimed that China may be preparing to provide Russia with military aid. A claim Beijing had denied.
When will the war in Ukraine end?
You asked so we went to the experts to find out:
When will the war in Ukraine end and other questions answered
When will the war in Ukraine end? Will Ukraine join NATO? Will the fighting spread? You asked, so Euronews went to the experts to find out.Eiffel Tower lit up in Ukrainian colours
Officials in Paris lit up the Eiffel Tower in the colours of the Ukrainian flag in a show of solidarity on Thursday.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine will push for victory
Ukraine’s president has pledged to push for victory in 2023. As morning broke on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used the anniversary to congratulate Ukrainians on their resilience in the face of Europe’s deadliest war since World War II. He said they had proven themselves to be invincible in what he called “a year of pain, sorrow, faith and unity.”
“We survived the first day of the full-scale war. We didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but we clearly understood that for each tomorrow, you need to fight. And we fought,” he said.
It was “the longest day of our lives. The hardest day of our modern history. We woke up early and haven’t fallen asleep since,” he said.