Ursula von der Leyen visits Kiev on second anniversary of war in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine: Ursula von der Leyen in Kiev for the second anniversary of the Russian invasion. The anniversary is marked by the visit of the President of the European Commission to Kiev and the visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigo to the Russian front troops in Ukraine.

This Saturday, February 24, Ukraine enters its third year of warhas weakened, and with the help of its allies the Russian military machine has regained strength.

Putin’s “special operation” begins

When Vladimir Putin announced in the early morning that Russian troops were entering Ukrainian territory 24 February 2022The Russian President believed they could capture Kiev in a matter of days, but Ukrainian resistance forced them to retreat.

In 2023, it was Ukraine that experienced a major disappointment: The failure of their great summer counter-offensive, to such an extent that the Russian army, with an economy oriented towards the war effort, is in a stronger position than the Ukrainian army. The army complains about the weakness of its troops as well as shortages of ammunition and air defense equipment.

Ursula von der Leyen praises Kiev’s “resistance”

The presence of Western leaders in Ukraine, led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this Saturday, to show their support, does not hide the situation: American aid is blocked by Republican rivals of Democratic President Joe Biden, And the Europeans have been left behind.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised this “The extraordinary resistance of the Ukrainian peopleUpon his arrival in Kiev on Saturday, two years after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“In Kiev, to celebrate the second anniversary of Russia’s war against Ukraine. And to celebrate the extraordinary resistance of the Ukrainian people,” Ursula von der Leyen said on social media. “More than ever we strongly support Ukraine: financially, economically, militarily, morally. Until the country becomes independent.

Russian Defense Minister meets his troops in Ukraine

He Russian Defense Minister Sergei ShoiguThe Russian military met its troops in Ukraine on Saturday, the second anniversary of the Moscow attack, the Russian military announced.

“Today the advantage in terms of the balance of power is on our side,” the minister told Russian troops from a command centre. The army press release said the minister was informed that Russian forces had gone on the offensive after capturing the town of Avdiivka.

London announces 287 million euros in aid to Ukraine for ammunition

The United Kingdom on Saturday announced the allocation of £245 million (€287 million) to help Ukraine replenish its ammunition, two years after the start of the Russian invasion.

The aim of this assistance is to “revitalize supply chains”. Produce artillery ammunition that Ukraine urgently needs To increase its stockpile,” the British Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Ukrainian forces “repulsed the Russian aggressor, reclaiming half of the territory stolen by Putin, while inflicting significant damage on Russian capabilities.” 30% of the Russian Black Sea Fleet destroyed or damagedAnd thousands of tanks and armored vehicles were reduced to rubble,” declared British Defense Minister Grant Shapps.