Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to Donald Trump to visit Kyiv, in a video address marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. The Ukrainian president said such a visit would make clear 'who the aggressor is' and that Putin has not achieved his original war goals.
Zelenskyy stated that Putin has not 'broken the Ukrainian people' and insisted Ukraine would not betray its people in any negotiations. He recalled refusing an evacuation offer from Joe Biden, saying he needed 'ammunition, not a ride.' The address included footage from the underground bunker where he worked during the first hours of the 2022 attack.
European leaders echoed Zelenskyy's remarks. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared Moscow is 'not as strong as it would like to think,' while French President Emmanuel Macron expressed scepticism that the war would end soon due to Russia's lack of willingness. A group of European leaders, including UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, visited Kyiv on Tuesday.
Trump has not accepted a previous invitation to visit Ukraine. During a meeting last year, US Vice-President JD Vance accused Kyiv of taking dignitaries on 'propaganda tours,' a charge Ukraine denies. In US-brokered peace talks, Trump has sided repeatedly with Putin, and Zelenskyy has rejected demands to cede territory in Donbas.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine wants 'strong, dignified, lasting peace' and urged negotiators not to devalue the country's struggle. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia's war aims are not fully achieved, and the military operation continues. Ukrainians laid flowers at a memorial in central Kyiv to honour those killed in the war.
