February 24 marks four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Despite repeated claims — including former US President Donald Trump’s assertion that he could end the war within 24 hours of taking office — a resolution appears distant. By most assessments, it is the Kremlin that has shown little willingness to bring the conflict to a close.
Kyiv has indicated it would consider a ceasefire along the current frontlines in eastern Ukraine. Moscow, however, continues to demand that Ukraine relinquish even the portions of the Donbas region it still controls — a condition Kyiv has firmly rejected.
Nearly 200,000 Ukrainians remain in the Ukrainian-held areas of Donbas, which also include a heavily fortified belt of towns and cities forming a critical defensive line. For Ukraine, surrendering these territories would not only endanger civilians but also weaken its strategic position. Critics argue that Russia’s demands appear designed to be unacceptable, effectively prolonging the war.
Another flashpoint is the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant — Europe’s largest — which has been under Russian control. Kyiv and its allies view the situation as a form of nuclear coercion with implications far beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Moscow has also opposed proposals aimed at securing Ukraine’s long-term safety. It has rejected the idea of a European peacekeeping force, objected to the size of Ukraine’s military, and resisted continued Western military support intended to deter future aggression.
In this context, Ukraine and its supporters argue that Russia, as the invading power, continues to set sweeping conditions while occupying internationally recognised Ukrainian territory.
Yet, four years on, Ukrainian resistance remains intact. There has been no indication from Kyiv of recognising Russian claims over occupied land or withdrawing from areas it still governs.
This winter has brought renewed hardship. Russia has intensified strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving millions facing power shortages and freezing temperatures. Despite this, Ukrainian society has endured.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has acknowledged the toll of the war, saying Ukrainians are exhausted and yearn for peace. But, he has stressed, it cannot come at the expense of sovereignty or dignity.
As the fourth anniversary of the invasion arrives, Ukraine continues to stand — battered, but unbroken — with its resolve shaping the course of the conflict even as its future remains uncertain.
