As the Russia-Ukraine war marked its fourth anniversary, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an appeal to US President Donald Trump, urging him to “stay on our side” and not abandon Ukraine’s struggle against Russia.
Speaking on the eve of the February 24 anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion that began in 2022, Zelenskyy told CNN that the United States is “far too big and too important” to walk away from backing a democratic nation resisting aggression from Moscow.
“They have to stay with … a democratic country which is fighting against one person,” Zelenskyy said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Because this person is war. Putin is war. It’s all about him. It’s all about one person. And the country, all his country is in the prison.”
When asked whether he believes Trump is putting enough pressure on Putin, Zelenskyy responded simply: “No.”
War fatigue and negotiating points
In a wide-ranging interview, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukrainians are tired after four years of relentless conflict, but insisted that conceding to Putin’s demands was not an option. He rejected the notion of handing over territory or yielding to Moscow’s pressures.
“We can’t just give him everything he wants. Because he wants to occupy us. If we will give him all he wants, we will lose everything — all of us,” the Ukrainian leader said, underlining that security guarantees from allies remain a key sticking point in negotiations.
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Zelenskyy also discussed the importance of clear security commitments from Western partners, particularly in the event of renewed aggression, and articulated that Ukrainians need more than vague promises.
When the war began, many experts and global leaders believed Ukraine could be overrun quickly.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly claimed, “It’ll be over in a few weeks.” American security officials told Newsweek they expected Kyiv to fall within days, with Ukraine’s resistance “neutralised” soon after.
Four years later, Russia controls roughly 10 percent of Ukraine’s territory. Its closest positions are now more than 300 km (185 miles) from Kyiv.
Along the way, Moscow has also lost some of the territory it had initially captured.
But despite international efforts and repeated calls for peace, the conflict shows no sign of ending. Across Europe and the United States, rallies and solidarity events have marked the fourth anniversary, with demonstrators urging governments to sustain military, political and humanitarian support for Kyiv.
