When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, many around the world didn’t believe our country would last even a few weeks. On various international platforms — including informal conversations with some world leaders — there were not only words of support but also expressions of irreversible sympathy.
Yet we endured. And we are still standing. Today, we celebrate the 34th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence — in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Lviv, and thousands of other cities and villages across the country. For the fourth consecutive year, under the conditions of a major war.
We stand, first and foremost, thanks to the heroism of Ukrainian soldiers and the resilience of Ukrainian society — all this time together, fiercely holding back the Russian onslaught. But we are certainly not standing alone.
From the very beginning of the invasion, international aid became critically important for us. Planes with weapons, humanitarian convoys, generators, medicines, support for refugees — the free world did not stand aside. And that changed everything.
There’s a lot to be said about this. And there’s a lot to tell. I still recall the first days of the invasion, when, together with colleagues from other countries, we handled not only global matters of Ukraine’s resistance but also practical — yet equally essential — issues, like fuel supplies for our armored vehicles.
Alongside crucial diplomatic and humanitarian support from our partners, two other directions deserve special mention — military and economic aid.
I remember the moment in April 2022 when over fifty countries united under the Ramstein format — a global coalition for coordinating military support for Ukraine. It was through this platform that we received Patriot and IRIS-T air defense systems, HIMARS rocket systems, Leopard and Abrams tanks, missiles of various ranges, and, more recently, F-16 fighter jets.
Our military trained with NATO colleagues. They learned quickly and adapted. Today, they are defending not just Ukraine — they are safeguarding European security and the entire civilized world.
As for financial support — I am deeply grateful to our partner governments, my colleagues in foreign ministries, and millions of people across the globe. Over the years, we’ve received tens of billions of dollars, which continue to help the Ukrainian government sustain our economy and provide reliable support for our troops.
At the same time, it’s important to remember — helping Ukraine is not charity. It is an investment in shared security.
It’s no secret that the Kremlin plans to go even further. And it’s not just me saying this — Ukrainian intelligence, think tanks, and even NATO military officials confirm it. Russian officials themselves openly declare it, threatening European countries and even the United States with destruction by their missiles. Russian propagandists say it daily on state television. These aren’t empty words — they reflect real plans and a dangerous worldview.
That is why I want to emphasize this: despite any difficulties or doubts, it is crucial to continue supporting Ukraine — with weapons, financially, diplomatically, politically, and culturally. The war is ongoing, and stopping it requires joint efforts. We are not asking for help out of weakness. On the contrary, it is about strength — the strength of Ukraine and its partners to act together and to win.
Dmytro Kuleba
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2020–2024)
