‘Putin must lose everything’: defiant Zelenskiy hosts western leaders in Kyiv to mark two years of war
Ukraine’s president met the prime ministers of Italy, Canada and Belgium in a show of unity after recent battlefield defeats
Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed western leaders to Kyiv on Saturday on the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, declaring that Vladimir Putin “must lose absolutely everything”.
Ukraine’s president met the prime ministers of Italy, Canada and Belgium – Giorgia Meloni, Justin Trudeau and Alexander De Croo – as well as the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
The leaders visited Hostomel airport, near Kyiv, which Russian paratroopers seized at the start of Moscow’s all-out attack. Ukrainian troops regained control of the airfield and thwarted Russian plans to capture the capital.
“Two years ago we met enemy troopers here with fire, and two years later, we are meeting our friends, our partners, here,” Zelenskiy said. He added: “Any normal person wants the war to end. But none of us will allow our Ukraine to end”.
History moves in a cycle. From war to peace to war to peace again. Thanks to unity, Europe has enjoyed peace and stability longer than any that came before. It comes to no surprise then that those who want to undermine the peace in order to gain more influence, would support isolationists within this union. We need to recognize what Putin's Russia is to Europe: A threat to peace and unity. And we must also recognize that if we fail our commitments to see Ukraine win, we are a huge step closer to letting Putin and the isolationists break the unity and by extension the peace, that we have enjoyed for so long.
Longer than any that came before? You kinda forgot about the Roman Empire.
The Romans were not peaceful.
They weren't peaceful but they enjoyed peace in their empire
There was tons of infighting. Like those guys set the standard.
By pre-modern standards, it was actually pretty tame during the first two centuries of the Empire. Which says a lot about the stability of most pre-modern polities.
…et tu, Bruté?
We have elections. They had assassinations. I’d say, not quite as tame as you’d infer.
nevermind... reread the comment thread.
Sorry - I think I lost who said what to whom. Nevermind.