Ukraine has hosted a host of European and world leaders for a peace summit, but one missing was an official representative from the United States. Beyond the war of words, U.S. officials opened direct talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia last week, locking Kiev and Europe into a policy shift on the war. Washington has made clear it will not send troops as a security guarantee coveted by Kiev if a peace deal is reached, placing the burden on European powers that are likely to fight without U.S. support.
"Three years after the start of Putin's 'three-day' special military operation, Ukraine is alive, fighting, and our country has more friends in the world than ever," Zelenskiy said at a summit of visiting leaders in Kyiv for the anniversary.
They included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and the leaders of Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
The leaders of Albania, Britain, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and Turkey spoke by video link. The United States was absent. The visitors paid their respects to Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war, standing in silence before a memorial made of flags in Kiev's central square. Air raid sirens were heard as they met for talks later, although no rocket attack followed.
"The war in Ukraine remains the most central and consequential crisis for the future of Europe. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is trying harder than ever to win the war on the ground. His goal remains the capitulation of Ukraine. And we know what can happen next because it has already happened before. It is not just the fate of Ukraine that is at stake, it is the fate of Europe ," said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EC.
Thousands of Ukrainian citizens have died and more than six million live as refugees outside the country since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion by land, sea and air, launching the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II. Military losses have been catastrophic, though they remain a closely guarded secret. Western public estimates based on intelligence reports vary widely, but most say hundreds of thousands have been killed or wounded on each side. (A2 Televizion)
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