4 years into Ukraine conflict, Zelensky says Russia’s Putin ‘did not win this war’

President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the four-year anniversary of the Ukraine war by accusing Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of trying to take over Ukraine, saying he had failed to achieve this and other war goals.

In a video address that showed Ukrainians carrying out acts of resistance against Russian soldiers in the opening days of the conflict, Zelensky added that Ukraine was ready to do “everything” it could to secure a strong, lasting peace.

Hundreds of thousands have died since Russia invaded its neighbour on February 24, 2022, unleashing the deadliest war on European soil since World War II.

Talks between the two sides, relaunched last year by the United States, have so far failed to halt the fighting, which has devastated the country and left it facing a mammoth reconstruction task.

“Putin has not achieved his goals. He did not break the Ukrainians. He did not win this war. We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to achieve peace – and to ensure there is justice,” Zelensky said in his address.

“We want peace. Strong, dignified and lasting peace,” Zelensky said, adding that any agreement “must not simply be signed, it must be accepted by Ukrainians”.