On February 24, 2022, Ukraine woke to the deafening sound of explosions. Exactly three years ago, the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion, plunging Ukraine into an existential fight for survival. Since then, Ukraine has been devastated by bombs and missile attacks and has suffered atrocities committed by Russian soldiers against Ukrainian civilians. Over six million refugees were forced to flee their homeland, leaving behind families, homes, and futures – creating the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, according to the UN refugee agency reports. Many countries around the world have suffered consequences of Vladimir Putin’s ‘special military operation.’ Another eight million remain displaced within Ukraine, torn from everything they once knew.
Yet, Putin’s plan to ‘take Kyiv in ten days’ failed 1,086 days ago. Ukraine stands strong with the support of countries who put human rights, the right for territorial integrity, and international law above the authoritarian ambitions of Putin. However, recent shifts in the global political arena – namely Trump serving another term (though no one expected it to be in the White House) – have altered Washington’s position on Ukraine dramatically.
The US-Russia ‘peace talks’
Reports suggest that on February 18, 2025, US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine amongst other matters. Upon this news, Ukraine and its European allies became alarmed about their exclusion from negotiations, fearing the possibility of Trump and Putin striking a backroom deal at the expense of Ukraine. Many European ministers expressed their concerns, and Prime minister of Canada Justin Trudeau condemned US-Russia ‘peace talks’ without Ukrainian representatives, saying:
“Ukrainians have been fighting and dying not just to protect their sovereignty, their territorial integrity. They are also fighting to protect the rules-based order that keeps us all safe around the world.”
Indeed, there has been a lot of suffering that continues until this day. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, civilians, and children have been killed or injured since the start of the war. People have lost their families, friends, and homes – losses they will never be able to recover. This is the price one pays to preserve freedom, land, culture, and democracy.
Although the talks did not reach a substantial agreement, the US and Russian representatives raised a question about the Ukrainian election. As Zelensky’s term of presidency ended in May 2024, and in accordance with martial law, elections are not permitted in a country in war, he will remain the legitimate president of Ukraine until the war conducted by Russia comes to an end. However, during the interviews on February 18, 2025, Trump claimed that Zelensky had an approval rating of 4% that coincides with the topics being discussed during the talks in Saudi Arabia.
A poll conducted by the Kyiv Sociological Institute in December 2024 refutes this claim, showing that Zelensky’s favourability rating is, in fact, 52%. The election narrative is no coincidence. As Trump has already tried to blame Ukraine for the war in the interview mentioned above, if Ukraine were to decline peace terms that disadvantage it, the White House will insist on re-election and accuse Zelensky of clinging to power.
Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine
The saying ‘Nothing about us without us’ originated in the 16th century Central Europe, and relies on the principle of participation, meaning that nothing should be decided without the presence of the affected party. The concept of ‘Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine’ has been a guiding principle since the Russian occupation of the Donbas region in 2014. This occurred when the Normandy Four – Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia – had been attempting to resolve the war in the Donbas and Crimea regions.
The saying came back strong at the beginning of a Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The official speaker for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Oleh Nikolenko, used the slogan in his commentary about peace negotiations in March 2021 between Germany, France, and Russia without Ukraine’s full agency. He clearly stated that Ukraine will not accept any terms negotiated without its presence.
Former US President Joe Biden has assured Ukrainian officials that the White House will stick to the principle of ‘Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.’ However, Trump’s policy appears to diverge, as within months of his second term, he has neglected the right of Ukraine to engage in the negotiations concerning its sovereignty and freedom.
Ukraine stands strong
Here I would like to address Trump’s statement about Ukraine starting the war and not ending it sooner, featured in his February 18, 2025 interview, mentioned in the “US-Russia ‘peace talks’” section.
No one wants to end this war more than a Ukrainian – a mother who gave birth under the hospital bombardments; a wife whose husband died in battle; a soldier who prays for their family to stay safe, lying in trenches; a child who became an orphan or a child who will never see the sun again.
However, Ukrainians understand how important it is not just to end this war because it hurts the economy or personal interests of another country, or a man who thinks he can do whatever he wants without consequences. It is crucial to defend a unique Ukrainian culture, history and identity of the people, and it is crucial to return its land.
Since February 24, 2022, 476 sites carrying historical, religious, and cultural significance have been damaged, as verified by UNESCO in January 2025. In attempts to silence Ukrainian people, Russia erases their language and heritage, and spreads pan-Slavic narratives trying to legitimise their violation of international law and human rights.
Ukrainian people have suffered enough throughout the past 11 years since the Russian annexation of Crimea and the occupation of Donbas. They stayed strong during cold, dark, and difficult winters. They stayed strong when singing national songs under the bombs, in the shelters, and metro stations. They stayed strong, united and resilient throughout three years of Russian full-scale invasion. And they must not be silenced or placed outside the negotiation room because there will be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.
