Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the eve of the first anniversary of the Russian military operation in his country that Ukraine "will triumph over the invading Russian forces." He stated via social media, "We have not broken, we have endured many hardships, and we will win. We will hold accountable all those who have brought this evil, this war to our land, all this horror, killing, torture, and looting."
He added that Russia chose "the path of a criminal, the path of a terrorist, the path of an oppressor, the path of a looter" by starting this war, emphasizing that this "state-level choice" requires "state-level accountability for the terrorism committed." During a press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Kyiv, Zelensky stated that his country seeks to achieve peace and hold Russia accountable according to United Nations charters. He mentioned that world leaders visited Kyiv and witnessed the extent of the destruction caused by Russia.
For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez expressed his country's full support for Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia. In contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin considered the army to be the "guarantor" of the stability of the Russian state, promising to increase military industrial production to meet the needs of the troops in Ukraine.
In a short video on the occasion of Defender of the Fatherland Day, marking one year since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Putin stated, "A modern and effective army and navy are guarantees of the security of the country and its sovereignty, a guarantee of stable growth and its future." He continued, "Therefore, we will continue to pay primary attention to enhancing our defense capabilities," as the Russian army seeks to regain the initiative in the Ukrainian Donbas region after suffering a series of defeats.
Putin affirmed his intention to "lead the balanced and high-quality development of all components of the armed forces" by equipping the army with "new strike systems, reconnaissance and communication devices, drones, and artillery systems." He also praised the "current increase in the production of all types of conventional weapons," urging the Russian military industrial sector to do more. Later, on Thursday, Putin laid a bouquet of flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin and briefly spoke with war veterans, according to footage broadcast by Russian television.
