Russia Marks Second Anniversary of Ukraine Annexation, Vows to Achieve Goals
As the war on the Ukraine-Russia border continues, Russia has marked the second anniversary of its illegal annexation of four Ukrainian territories. The annexation, which was met with international condemnation, has seen Russia maintain control over parts of the regions, but not entirely.
In a statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the ongoing conflict, claiming that Russia did not abandon its "brothers and sisters" in Ukraine, but rather tried to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, Putin also accused Western elites of lying, forging, and deceiving in their dealings with Ukraine, which he believes turned the country into a colony and military bridgehead aimed at Russia.
Putin’s statement is likely a reference to the Minsk agreements, a series of deals aimed at ending the fighting between Kiev and Russian-speaking separatists in eastern Ukraine. However, a decade after the first deal was signed, the conflict continues.
Russia’s military offensive in 2022 saw troops deployed to Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, but Moscow does not fully control all territory in these regions. Despite this, Putin has vowed that Moscow will accomplish all its goals in Ukraine, marking its third year of conflict.
The ongoing war has devastating consequences for civilians on both sides, with thousands of people killed or injured and countless others displaced. As the conflict drags on, the international community remains concerned about the impact on regional stability and global security.
