Four years ago, war returned to the European continent.
Today marks 1462 days since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The ALDE Party honours the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, who continue to fight under a relentless assault.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid tribute to four years of his country's resilience in his daily address:
"Putin has not achieved his goals. He has not broken the Ukrainian people. He has not won this war. We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to achieve peace and to ensure justice."
This winter, Russia shifted its attacks towards on energy infrastructure, preventing power, water and heat and weaponised one of the coldest winters in years, with temperatures as low as -26 degrees.
EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath commented on this:
“There can be no just and lasting peace without accountability. A peace that fails to confront aggression risks normalising it.”
As U.S. support faltered in recent years, Europe stepped up to occupy the space. Liberals have constantly argued that European security begins in Ukraine, as security guarantees are essential to deter further Russian aggression.
Europe’s recent 90 billion EUR support package for Ukraine is a historic statement that European unity and democratic resolve will not yield to aggression.
ALDE Vice-President, Yevheniya Kravchuk (Servant of the People, UA), emphasised the importance of Ukrainian resolve:
“As never before, Ukraine is part of European security. We protect not only our state, but the stability and security of the entire continent.”
Liberal leaders also met in Kyiv today as part of the Coalition of the Willing to reaffirm support for Ukraine and to re-evaluate its long-term security strategy after its energy infrastructure was targeted this winter.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, emphasised Putin's miscalculation:
“Four years on, Russia is paying a heavy price for a fatal miscalculation. Its military is bogged down; its economy is in rapid decline.”
Prime Ministers Kristen Michel (Reform Party, EE), Micheal Martin (Fianna Fail, IE) and EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, also shared their thoughts from Kyiv:
Ukraine is fighting a war on the front lines of democracy. History will not remember who hesitated, but those who stood firm when war returned to Europe.
See the reactions of some of our liberals across Europe raising support for Ukraine as the war enters its fifth year: