On the 24th February 2022, the Russian army rolled into Ukraine as Vladimir Putin announced a “Special Military Operation.” The massive and surprise military invasion was meant to last just three days with Russian police and security forces following the military’s convoy in preparation to subdue the Ukrainian population to Russian rule.
The invasion failed as the Ukrainians mounted an even more surprising and effective resistance that halted the Russian army. While Russia initially captured more than a quarter of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully liberated several occupied territories, including Kherson and Kharkiv. The Russians have killed more than 100,000 civilians via airstrikes and massacres of the occupied territories. Tens of thousands of civilians were killed in Mariupol and many still remain unaccounted for. Vladimir Putin also has a pending arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court for kidnapping and transferring tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Russia has lost more than 850,000 troops and most of its military arsenal except for its air force and navy which are still mostly intact although the Black Sea Fleet has been mostly destroyed.
Ukraine is still defiant despite pressure from the United States and Russia to capitulate with the US now taking Russia’s side. President Zelensky rejected to handover 50% of Ukraine’s mineral rights to the United States and wants Europe to mediate for Ukraine. As the United States realigns its strategic interests with Russia, European countries are pledging more military aid packages to Ukraine. Turkey will also provide Ukraine with sophisticated weaponry.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is in Ukraine today and will be meeting with President Zelensky. French President Emmanuel Macron is in Washington to meet with President Donald Trump in a bid to convince the American President not to give up support for Ukraine. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet President Trump on Thursday to make the same bid.
Updated: 08:52. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa have also arrived in Kyiv this morning.
Newsroom
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