Ukraine-Russia war live: Zelensky hails three years of resistance against Putin’s war

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky praised three years of resistance against Russia’s war in Ukraine as the country marked the third anniversary of the invasion on Monday.

“Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians. I am proud of Ukraine! I thank everyone who defends and supports it,” he said in a post on X.

“Everyone who works for Ukraine. And may the memory of all those who gave their lives for our state and people be eternal.”

The Vatican has released a statement on behalf of Pope Francis, who is recovering in a hospital, calling the third anniversary of the war “a painful and shameful occasion for all humanity”.

“Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the full-scale war against Ukraine: a painful and shameful occasion for all of humanity!

“He remembered “martyred Ukraine.”

“As I renew my solidarity with the martyred Ukrainian people,” the Pope reminded, “I invite you to remember the victims of all armed conflicts and to pray for the gift of peace in Palestine, Israel, and throughout the Middle East, in Myanmar, in Kivu, and in Sudan.”

The 88-year-old pontiff is in critical condition and blood tests showed early kidney failure but he remains alert, responsive and attended Mass, the Vatican said on Sunday update.

Ukrainians arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital, for a special event held on the third anniversary of the invasion.

A minute of silence was observed for those who have lost their lives in the war since it began on 24 February 2022.

The event was organised by the Ukrainians in Northern Ireland Community Group where people shared their own stories of loss and personal experiences of the war.

Falling debris from destroyed Ukrainian drones sparked a fire at an industrial enterprise in Russia’s Ryazan region, the governor of the region southeast of Moscow said on Monday.

“According to preliminary information, there were no injuries, material damage is being assessed,” governor Pavel Malkov said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

Mr Malkov did not say what enterprise was on fire. Baza, a news Telegram channel that is close to Russia’s security services, reported that Ukrainian drones targeted the Ryazan oil refinery, which is owned by Rosneft.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

Just one month after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the US president has thrown whatever hopes Kyiv had for future American support into chaos.

In the last week alone he has launched repeated attacks on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, falsely branding him a “dictator” and wrongly accusing Ukraine of “starting” the war.

And so Ukraine now finds itself fighting a war on two fronts: the grind against the Russian invaders to the east, and the battle to keep Mr Trump on side to the west.

Russia recognises the efforts by the United States to move towards a quick ceasefire in Ukraine, but that is unacceptable for Moscow and threatens serious consequences for Russia-US relations, RIA news agency reported on Monday.

“We can recognise with sufficient confidence the desire of the American side to move towards a quick ceasefire,” RIA cited Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying in remarks published on Monday.

“But … a ceasefire without a long-term settlement is the path to a swift resumption of fighting and a resumption of the conflict with even more serious consequences, including consequences for Russian-American relations. We do not want this.”

Hundreds of Ukrainians have marched through Dublin’s streets to mark three years since Russia’s invasion.

The crowd held signs criticising Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump as demonstrators thanked Ireland for hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees.

Relations between the US and Europe have been strained after Mr Trump launched hit out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week.

Britain will ban entry to individuals who provide significant support to the Russian state or owe their wealth to the Russian state, under new sanctions set to be announced on Monday, exactly three years after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Individuals with access to the highest levels of Russian government will also be included in the ban, the UK government said. They could include some senior politicians, government officials and business people.

The new measures would complement Britain’s existing sanctions against Russian “elites” who were supporting Russian president Vladimir Putin’s war effort, it said.

British security minister Dan Jarvis said his message to Putin’s friends in Moscow was simple: “You are not welcome in the UK.”

“The measures announced today slam the door shut to the oligarchs who have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian people whilst bankrolling this illegal and unjustifiable war,” he said in a statement.

British prime minister Keir Starmer will travel to Washington on Thursday to discuss the war in Ukraine with president Donald Trump.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said he refused to acknowledge that Ukraine owed the US $500 billion for the wartime aid that Washington has provided to Kyiv, a figure often cited by US president Donald Trump.

Zelensky said on Sunday that grants should not be treated as loans.